The Island

[Maid of Marvels]

Hana Hou Airlines Flight 19 was a 30-minute flight. A few minutes before the plane is due to land just off Hawaii something goes terribly wrong! The plane runs into extremely bizarre weather. As the disturbance clears briefly, the crew and passengers find themselves over the Island of Oahu. Diamondhead is clearly visible but little else looks familiar.

The turbulence accelerates rapidly. Suddenly, the passengers hear the pilot through the cabin door call "This is HH-19, MAYDAY! MAYDAY! at 158 E, 21 30 N. MAYDAY, MAYDAY!" The bewildered crew hears nothing but silence on all the aircraft's radios and communication devices. They are forced to crash-land at what should have been Waikiki.

The surviving passengers and crew of Flight 19 have just unknowingly taken a journey in time, as well as space. They are marooned forever on the Island of Oahu, stranded by the Pacific and over years of time, long before civilization rooted itself in the Hawaiian Islands (ie pre-tech); a time and place where modern civilization as they knew it is no more. Is a very primitive way of life is now to be the norm for them all?

You are completely alone with your companions -- without any hope of rescue or escape. How will you survive? How will you organize yourselves? Who is in charge? What will happen to you? How resourceful will you be?

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW WAY OF LIFE... FOREVER!!

Come join us as either passenger or indigenous inhabitant of "The Island".

Introduce yourself at OOC and Casting Call: The Island and come get ready to board or make yourself at home in the village or just read along.

But most of all... have fun!
~Maid

 

[Cordae]

Julie Malone

As Julie stepped through the automatic doors, and into the airport, she felt a surge of excitment course through her body. She smiled to herself and hauled her bags to the ticket counter to be checked in.

"Looks like we made it on time!" she noted to her 3 best friends and travel companions. One week prior, the four girls had convocated from their respective schools, and agreed to reward themselves with a vacation. 2 and a half weeks in Hawaii should erase the stress of final exams and clear their heads before joining the real world in September.

Julie was looking forward to her first year of teaching, she had been hired on at Sister Mary Francis Catholic Elementary School in her home town to instruct a grade 2 class. She was quite impressed with herself for securing her job within the weeks prior to graduating, she was among the few who would not spend their first year as a supply teacher.

Shaking her head of thoughts of September, she hoisted her carry on up to her shoulder and turned to her friends, listening avidly as they discussed what the first order of business would be once they arrived on the island. Slowly, they made their way through security and into the terminal to wait for the first boarding call.

"Anyone else want a coffee?" Julie stretched lazily, noting her friends' requests. She walked around the corner to the small stand and ordered.

"Three small coffee and a hot chocolate, please." She smiled at the vendor, hardly noticing the individual approaching from behind. When she turned around, cup tray full, she managed to avoid spilling the hot beverages all over herself and the stranger.

"Sorry about that!" She apologized as they collided.....

 

[papillon24]

Angie Kindes

Angie had just turned twenty six that summer. This was here year off. She had just finished her masters in marine biology and the university of Hawaii and was about to start her new job. She was first taking on a research project on the the ocean to work woth water samples and then it was onto the south pacific to work on the reefs. The water was her home. Litterally in fact. She lived on a sailboat,her sailboat. A beautiful 35 foot one that she was to be working off as well. It was also her means of transportation to the south. Going down there was also her break till work started. She had planned to be camping on any small island she could find.

She made her way down to the dock quickly. Her arms were full of the supplies she would need for the next few months.

"Great, finally I'll be out on my own."

She went over her list again.

Radio
Canned food
Dried food
Flashlight
Headlamp
Flint
matches
rope......

The list went on.

Quickly she called the coast gaurd to warn them of her leaving and her agenda for the next few days out on the reef.

Her boat, The Altima(which was painted in bright red english style letters on the back) putted out by the small moter and out of the harbor. Quickly she caught a bit of wind and was off. It was a journy of a lifetime.

 

[Vikingstone]

Reggie

"Oh my dear, I'm so terribly sorry," exclaimed Sir Reginald R. H. Trowbridge O.B.E. as he very nearly barreled into a lovely young woman with a tray of hot drinks. "How unspeakably clumsy of me."

He begged her forgiveness once again and as nothing had actually spilled, she moved off to be with her equally lovely young friends while Reggie continued to the duty free shop.

"Booze, booze, booze, it all looks so good, wherever shall I start!" Reggie asked an old woman whose face bore the deeply ingrained 'snit' lines of a lifetime of bad humor. She literally "harumphed" in Reggie's face and moved off to buy her Crabby Old Ladies Home Journal. Reggie finished making his choices, 8 quarts in all and waited as the attendant wrapped everything up thoroughly and packed them into his hard backed case to insure against breakage. Reggie felt better already. It would NOT do to run out of booze. Of course the resort he was staying at after this hop would have all the liquor he wanted, but his "in-room" stock must be maintained. He handed the bag off to a sky cap, slapping a twenty in his hand for good luck.

Reggie then shook his money-maker back down toward his boarding gate and was thrilled to see that his charming collision-mate and her trio of young lovelies. were waiting at his gate. How grand.

This was indeed going to be a nice trip. He was working for no one...no security to ensure, no one to watch over or follow or rough up or kill. Just Reg and his booze and the white sand beaches of Oahu. Oh, and of course all the beautiful women he could eat. reg chuckled at his own stupidity as he sat a few chairs away from Josie and the Pussycats.

"I say, I'm terribly sorry about my idiocy earlier, are you lovely young ladies ready for another? I would feel so much better if you'd allow me to buy you all another round."

 

[Cordae]

Julie returned to her friends and handed out the drinks. While she had been gone, it appeared her friends had decided that once they were settled into their resort, they would immediately hit the beach. Giggling, they discussed swimsuits and suntan oils. Julie noticed from the corner of her eye that the man who had run into her had entered their gate and sat down not too far away.

...allow me to buy you all another round?"

Julie's friends smiled widely and giggled at the man's accent as he offered them another drink. Julie grinned.

"Of course! We'd be very much grateful for that, but you have no need to apologize for earlier. It was my fault, I whipped around too fast without watching."

One of the girls whispered in her ear and Julie nodded and smiled up at the gentleman.

"Are you flying to Oahu as well? We're going on vacation to celebrate! Are you on vacation too?"

 

[Vikingstone]

Reggie

"I am indeed, my dears," Reggie smiled. "Free and freaky, no responsiblilities of any sort. Sand, sun and surf, my primary objectives. Plus drinking. What do you, four charming creatures have planned for your stay, drunken debauchery by night and sleeping on the beach when the sun shines?" Reggie glanced from one pretty, open, smiling face to another as he moved one chair closer.

 

[Cordae]

Julie Malone

Julie and her friends giggled again.

"Yes, that about sums it up! We're planning on going with the flow and decompressing for two and a half loooooong weeks!" Julie smiled warmly at the man and cocked her head to the side. "Where are you from? I like your accent...very smooth and reassuring." Still smiling, Julie extended her hand. "I'm Julie, and these are my friends Kelly, Shawna, and Mae. Whats your name?" Each girl offered their hand to the gentleman, all feeling the pull of his eyes and the charm in his voice.

'At least the wait for our plane isn't turning out to be boring..' Julie thought, 'This guy is quite a character...'

 

[Lady_Kit]

Kit Duvall

Kit was looking for something to relieve the monotony of retirement. She’d been a soldier for twenty years and when she retired a few months ago, civilian life seemed attractive. It took less than two weeks before she was bored out of her mind. When too many nights spent watching ESPN had left her seriously contemplating extreme sports, she decided it was time to get away. The invitation to visit friends in Hawaii seemed like the answer to a prayer and she’d accepted without hesitation.

The essentials went into her well-worn duffel bag and she took the first flight leaving Ohio. By the time she reached the last leg in her journey, the 30-minute inter-island hop, it seemed like she’d been traveling forever. Her well-worn jeans, tight white t-shirt and denim jacket were holding up to the trip, but she was beginning to wish that she’d worn her sneakers instead of her scuffed leather boots. She was just wondering if she’d have time to pull the other shoes from her bag when the overhead speakers announced boarding for Flight 19.

More than one male gaze turned in her direction when she stood and stretched. She had one of those faces that seems timeless, not in a breathtakingly beautiful way, but of the “never seems to change” variety. Her blonde hair was cut short and the soft-fringed ends framed her face, drawing attention to her blue eyes and generous mouth. At 40 her body is still good, athletic, and usually deeply tanned from outdoor activity.

Kit lifted her bag, and moved slowly into the queue, letting the other passengers crowd the gate and not her. All her muscles felt tight and that combined with “travel dirt” made her doubly ready get out of her clothes and into a nice hot shower. She rolled her shoulders, trying to work out the kinks while she observed her fellow travelers. A group of giggly young women drew her eye and she watched with some amusement as a good looking, slightly red-eyed, fellow carrying what amounted to a portable bar cozied up to the prettiest of the bunch. Harmless flirtation, just the thing for an island vacation. Maybe she’d indulge in a bit of that herself, if she found the time.

 

[Steiner]

"Captain" Robert Garrett

Robert checked his uniform tie straightened his cap and sauntered into the lounge with a breezy smile. As it was written, so shall it be... ...forever and ever amen! And company policy was for the Captain of the flight to socialise briefly with the passengers in the complimentary bar before the flight. Robert had hurried through the checklist, and left the refuelling to the rookie co-pilot and the experienced ground staff engineer in order to make this appointment - breaking about seven regulations, but keeping the appointment that the company deemed more important.

Standing in front of the bar, he cleared his throat before breaking into his best newsanchor voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen. If I could have your attention for just a second?" he paused a brief instant and then continued.

"I'm Captain Robert Garret and I'll be you pilot this afternoon for flight HH-19 to beautiful Waikiki!" he paused to allow any cheers or welcomes to die down.

"I just wanted you to get a chance to meet me before you put your lives in my hands, and to allow me to thank you again for flying with us. If you have any questions at all about the aircraft or about our route today, please find me at the bar. Just to reassure you, I won't of course be drinking myself - and I advise you all to go easy as well. We aren't going too high today, but altitude does affect your bodys ability to handle alcohol." with that he smiled, letting them know that he was sure they were all men and women of the world who would never think of doing something so silly.

 

[Vikingstone]

Reggie

"Jolly old England, Julie, and the name is Sir Reginald R. H. Trowbridge but all of you must certainly call me Reggie." Reggie had to grin as he clasped each warm, youthful hand in turn. These girls are going to look magnificent in the undoubtedly tiny swimwear they have in their bags!

"You know," Reggie intoned with conspiratorial sincerity, "A quartet as charming as yourselves really should have a protector, these big resorts are crawling with ne'er do wells." Then he smiled broadly and winked, signalling to the girls that he was just having a little fun with them. "Well, perhaps you don't need my protection, but you must all promise right now that you'll dine with me when we get over to the island, my treat of course."

Having extracted his promises, Reggie stood and began to walk toward the bar. "And what is with you girls and this coffee nonsense," Reggie scolded. "You're on vacation in HAWAII, mai-tai's ladies, mai-tai's!"

Just then the Captain appeared...

(see above)

 

[Cordae]

Julie and her friends silenced their laughter as a man stepped forth and declared himself captain.

"Now there's a good looking guy!" One of the girls exclaimed.

"What, and Reggie isn't?" another asked. Again, all four girls burst out laughing. Julie thought again about how great this vacation was going to be and turned her attention to the Captain's words.

"Maybe we should wait until we get there to start our drinking. Did you hear what he said about how altitude affects it? We should probably stick to coffee until we're on the beach." With that, Julie got up again and walked back towards the concession and ordered more coffee.

While she waited, she looked around the terminal, and thought that it must be getting close to time to board as people were now milling around everywhere. From the corner of her eye, Julie noticed a very striking blonde woman. She noted that her choice of footwear, a pair of boots, was a bit strange. Shrugging her shoulders, she turned back to the vendor handing her the beverages.

As she returned to her seat, Julie stopped next to the Captain (who, she noticed, had very gorgeous eyes) and asked, "When do you think we can start boarding? I see a line already forming."

 

[slowandeasy]

Jacques La Forge

Interupted by the captains sudden anouncement, Jacques studied his Brandy and water and let his introspection slip behind him.

He had been looking forward to this trip in more ways than one. To be sure the assignment he was on as illustrator for a travel brocure for a well known cruise line would bring him a healty sum of money but in addition to that he needed to get away from the mainland, get away from the phone, the tv, the newspapers and just relax.

Perhaps it was more than that. He was just not ready to face his impending divorce. Even though His estranged wife had promised it wouldn't be messy, there were the kids to consider. Of course they knew it was coming, probably even before he and Shelia did, and both his son and daughter were well into their teens, but, there were certain to be ramifcations that he would have to deal with that he was just not ready to face. If he just could drop out of sight for a few weeks... He thought about a movie he had seen not long ago. Robin Williams in a movie about dying. "What Dreams May Come", he thought the title was. How he had found himself immersed in a painting. But Jacques wasn't wanting to die, just disappear for a while. And he hadn't painted a picture worth jumping into in quite a while, He shrugged his shoulders and supposed this was the next best thing.

"No." he said to himself as he looked into his image in the mirror behind the bar. He wasn't ready to die. At 54 he still looked good. His bright blue eyes were surounded by a tan clean shaven face. His blond hair curled around his ears and brushed the collar of his cambray shirt. The top button, unfastened revealed an abundance of fine curly chest hair and more tan skin. His long legs supported a lean body kept fit by regular excercise.

He threaded his long supple fingers through his hair and smilled at his image. His hands were magic. With them and his keen observative mind he was able to recreate any scene he came upon. His photographic memory instantly captured and retained every aspect of a windswept sky, a vast mountain range or the intricate details of a womans naked body. His father wanted him to be a surgeon, his mother dreamed of him being a famous concert pianist, but he chose to be an artist. Not wanting to die pennyless like so many before him he chose to be an illustrator and had made quite a name for himself as he had the ability to bring a simple scene to life, even better than a photograph.

He finished his drink and bent down to pick up a bag containing the tools of his trade and another bag with a change of clothes and a swimsuit. Having only planned on spending a couple of days in Waikiki to complete his assignment he would disappear into the mountains for...well for as long as it took to get his shit together. One didn't need a lot of 'stuff' for that kind of an adventure.

He got in line after waiting for the crowd to thin out a bit He hated lines. It reminded him of the four years he spent in the Navy. 'Hurry up and wait.' To distract himself from the obvious delay he thought of a refreshing swim in the ocean and a long leasurely walk along the beach when he arrived at his next destination.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Kit Duvall

The Captain had wisely timed his departure speech for the few remaining moments before boarding. He rattled off what sounded like a scripted greeting from the PR department, but used his own personality to make speech palatable. The bar helped too. Kit didn’t indulge in the free booze; she’d lost her head for it years ago. In those days she tended to do one of two stupid things when she picked up her glass; either drink until she lost consciousness and woke up with the mother of all hangovers, or drink until she lost her common sense and woke up in a strange bed with a man, or occasionally with a woman, whose name she seldom could recall. Of the two, the hangover always seemed to hurt less.

The boarding area was getting crowded, the restless activity that surrounds a departure turned the space into a moving sea of people and debris. Kit was glad that she’d made her way to one side when she did, and after her foot was stepped on for the third time, she was even glad she’d worn the boots. They were a damn bother when she flew, and when she went through security she had to take them off, but it was still easier to wear them than drag them around in her bag. Another traveler stepped into line behind her. He seemed no more eager to rush the gate with the crowd than she. Hopefully neither of them would have to wait very much longer.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The land, enduring through all time and human life being quite finite, our people believe that they can never own the land and that the land owns us.

Truly a mokupuni, an island kingdom, the kauhale of our people is situated between high, forested mountains and extends to the sea, providing us with access to the resources of all elevations. There will be no others on this island... at least not known to us.

As you enter the kauhale, you will see several buildings of import, the highest, built on a raised platform, and the grandest of all, is the Hale Ali‘i, the house of the chief. Kahili, or feather standards, are placed outside to signify royalty. Neither women nor children may enter here.

Quite near you will see the Hale Papa‘a, the house of royal storage. Within you will find special items of the ali'i that include fabrics, prized nets and lines, clubs, spears and other weapons.

Central to the kauhale is the imu, a stone cooking pit used to cook the entire village's food including pua‘a or pork. Only men may use it as only men may use the Hale Mua or men's eating house. It is sacred because it is also the place where stone idols of our aumakua, ancestral gods are carved.

Men and women eat separately. Man is vulnerable while eating to having their mana, divine spirit, stolen by women. Women eat at their own separate eating house called the hale aina.

We also have a weaver's house, the Hale Ulana, where women gather each day to make baskets, fans, mats and other things from lauhala.

Surrounding these you see the Hale Nolo, our homes.

There are two important buildings built near the water. One is the Hale Wa'a, the house of the canoe. It serves as a shelter for the canoes as well as a storage place for koa used to build them. The other is Hale Lawai‘a, the house of fishing. This is where the fishing nets and lines, made of tough rope fashioned from woven coconut husks. Hooks were fashioned from human, pig or dog bone. These are among the most prized of our possessions.

Domestic animals include the pig, chickens of red and black plumage and small dogs. Plant life is abundant as are fish and some wild animals, especially birds. There are many uses for everything and nothing goes to waste.

Among us there are three distinct classes: The ruling class, or ali'i, being chief among them. All born to this class are direct descendants of the akua (gods and goddesses) and rule by divine right.

The maka'ainana are the common people. They farm, fish, thatch roofs, build houses, work with stone, build canoes and raise families. The the backbone of our society, even the ali'i cannot exist without them.

Kauwa are the "untouchables" or slaves, often captured during battles. Their shadows may not fall on anyone, not even a maka'ainana and they are known by the tattoos on their foreheads or at the corner of their eyes.

Crimes are punishable by death, though a misbehavior is sometimes dealt with by ostracizing the offender. No food, no shelter, no speaking... it is almost the same as being sentenced to death.

There are several other things of note, and endemic to our way of life as we are a very spiritual people. They are shrines and heiau (temples), sacred pohaku stones, and wooden ki'i images. The Kahuna (holy men) attributed their creative skills as an inheritance from ancestral spirits and higher gods, so they, along with the ali'i and maka'ainana showed gratitude by presenting offerings at these places.

Okay... maybe that was a mouthful, but I hope you get the general idea? And if you look around hard enough there's quite a bit of info available online.

 

[Messalina]

Messalina Bishop

Lost in thought, Messa vaguely heard the conversations around her and very nearly missed the call to board. It was only the sensation that the voices had moved off and that she was sitting alone that made her sit up and look around.

"Crap!"

Snatching up her backpack, she ran toward the end of the diminishing line, grateful that she'd at least had the presence of mind to drop off her luggage at the curb when she'd arrived at the airport.

Relax. Relax. Deep breaths. This was supposed to be a vacation of sorts before things were back to "business as usual". Okay, maybe not a vacation, but a chance to get things sorted out.

 

[Steiner]

Robert smiled as the young woman approached him, taking his cap off and placing it on the bar so as not to appear too much like an automaton.

Her question was all business but the the way she looked into his eyes was a nice boost to his self-image. She'd asked about the boarding time and he automatically looked down to his wrist watch before meeting her eyes again.

"Well, miss, you can board the aircraft any time you like from about 5 minutes ago. The Ground side staff would be happy to process you through to your seat. It's not quite as comfortable as this, but you might want to grab a nice window early."

He smiled at her

"I see a lot of people are heading in that direction now, if you'd like a hand with your cabin baggage, we could join them?"

 

[slowandeasy]

Jacques

The line had begun to move faster and Jacques sighed in relief. He had been observing the woman ahead of him as she tried to avoid the crowd that threatened to engulf both of them. Like him, she seemed to need her space and he kept his distance even though he thought he might have liked to have caught her attention and struck up a conversation to pass the time. As it was all he could see was her backside, her faded jeans and leather boots, her denium jacket and her short blonde hair. He grinned to himself remembering an old saying about following a woman and trying to decide whether to catch up with her and share a conversation or stay behind and enjoy the view.

The view as Jacques saw it, was much more than boots and jeans and the back of a womans head. As he let his imagination wander, as he had a habit of doing, he saw muscle and bone and all the soft warm places a womans body was composed of. He saw strength and poise, grace and beauty beneath the cloth and leather.

He toyed with the idea of giving her white feathery wings, pointed ears, and a dainty fairy like appearance but grinned again and opted for a swelt jungle cat. Beneath that tawny mane he imagined a sinewy agile frame, a controled sense of purpose and direction. That might be more acurate he considered, as he noticed the way she deftly avoided the intrusions of the other travelers as if she were measuring her domain.

Now as she moved ahead behind the diminishing crowd he moved also, giving her the space he sensed she needed and maintaining the distance he too required.

This trip was not about 'getting laid'. although if she happened to be somebody headed in the same emotional direction he was, he would enjoy the company.

 

[papillon24]

Angie

Angie listened to the sound of the waves as they crashed against the side of her boat. The air was warm and smelled of coconuts and plumeria. She lay on the deck letting the warm sun beat down on her body. Just and hour ago she had roped the wheel in place before making a quick sandwhich lunch. The wind was subtle and rocked the boat gently.

She sat up to a noise. A chatter was going along the side of the Altima. Sitting up she felt comfused. No one or thing was supposed to be out here today.

Angie looked over to the side to fine herself in the iddle of a pod of dolphins. She sniled at their play. They jumped palyfully throguh the waves following along the sides of the boat in the clear blue water.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

In the kauhale...

Makani sat with her grandmother and some of the other women in the hale ulana, weaving together dried pandanus leaves they called lauhala. She was hot and cross and her stomach growled from the smell of pua‘a roasting in the cooking pit. She could hear her kapunakane telling stories to the men tending the imu. Only men were permitted.

"Kapunawahine," she whined, throwing down an unfinished basket. "I will go quite mad by the time I am your age if... "

"Hush child!" Kei, her grandmother chided, though not very convincingly. "We will go to the hale aina soon and you can stuff your belly until it is as full as Leilani's."

The women twittered and Leilani twisted her nose, sticking out her tongue at the others as she was allowed only greens and herbs and was not permitted meat or even fish. Her belly was full of a child that would come within the next moon according to the Kahuna Ho-Ohanau who cared for all of the pregnant women in the kauhale and had helped to birth almost everyone there.

"No worries, Leilani," one of the others said. "Makani will eat your portion and all the scraps as well."

Now it was Makani's turn to make a face. So far she had been lucky, according to Kei and the others... eating almost as much as some of the koa, or hunters and still remaining slender. It was all the running she did to escape from doing menial things. She just never understood why it was so different for the kane and the wahine.

Makani sighed and licked her lips. By the sound of things they would be eating very soon.

 

[Butch]

Kwame Uhuru

Kwame had arrived at the airport about an hour early and sat by himself on a bench. He was dreesed in his regular black leather jacket and black turtle neck as well as a pair of dark sun glasses. If he was excited about the trip he hid it well. People passing by tried to keep their distance. Kwame thought them racists because of this but the fact was that he looked dangerous. However, he liked it this way. To him, people being scared of him was synonymous with respect. He was starting to get a little impatient. When were they gonna announce his flight?

Though the people passing him by would never expect it, he had been looking forward to this trip for over a year. He was going to seek out his roots and if he liked it he was going to settle down.

 

[Vikingstone]

Reggie

No mai tais for the young lovelies. Eh, just as well, thought Reggie, they'd have to drink awfully quickly as Mr. Lindberg had announced that the assembled could begin boarding any time. Besides Reggie had already spied a couple of women who would be much more his speed. The fresh perfection of the co-eds made his mouth water but these two gals had character!

One, a studious but not at all marmish looking darling. A very attractive and substantial woman whom Reggie guessed might be a photographer, from the look of her worn but presentable khakis. Khakis which swelled and receded in just the right proportion. She was also nowhere near this airport at the moment. Lost in thought, her features were soft and delicate.

The other looked like she could have crawled down from the bow of a Ship of the Line! Firm all over. Breasts jutting amply. Hips feminine but slim. The rounded, rock hard butt of a cyclist or one of those lunatics who free climbs El Capitan for an afternoons' amusement. A formidable specimen indeed. Yet pretty, with a lovely mouth and blue eyes.

Reggie had to get a seat with one of these two. Or perhaps between them...wouldn't that be a brilliant start to this Oahu adventure. He hung back a bit to see how the chips would fall.

 

[Cordae]

Julie Malone

Julie smiled sheepishly at the pilot.

"I guess thats what I get for travelling with 3 other yappy girls... we never hear the announcements." She thanked him and nodded her head to his offer to help with her carry-on.

"Oooh! She wrangled him in!!" One of Julie's friends exclaimed when she noticed that the captain had taken Julie's backpack from her. "We gotta get in on that!" Quickly they stood up and ran to Julie. Batting eye lashes and licking lips, the girls quickly dumped their luggage on the captain as well. Julie stifled a laugh behind her hand at the image of the pilot with a pink backpack over one shoulder, a denim backpack (covered in iron-on decals) on the other, a large powder blue purse in one hand and a duffle bag under his arm.

"Wait" she looked at the captain with a smirk and reached up to place his hat on his head. "almost..." using one slender finger, she pushed on one side of the hat, leaving it there to hang crookedly from his head "perfect!" Julie then withdrew a camera from her jacket pocket, snapped a quick picture and smiled warmly. "There! Lets fix that hat now shall we?" Fixing the hat, Julie leaned in and kissed the pilot on his nose. "Thanks for humoring my friends!" She took her backpack from him and moved on through the line towards the airplane.

 

[Steiner]

A simple offer soon turned into a bit of a scene as the woman's friends festooned him with bags - he'd have been required to respond gallantly anyway, but the sighs, the heaving chests and the fluttering eyelashes had simply made him see the funny side of it - these girls were obviously well into the holiday spirit already, and it sort of did him good to be part of the scene.

When Julie leaned in to photograph him, he did consider the possibility that he was being made fun of, but the way she kissed his nose before taking her bag back left him feeling conflicted about the whole thing. Obviously a girl with a good sense of humour who liked a joke, but didn't want it to be at anyone's expense.

Carrying the other bags he strode after her, chatting to her friends as they caught up with the other passengers and made it to the gate.

Flipping a flirtatious wink at the checkin girl (no chance, she was dating some big shot A320 pilot from KLM) he set the bags down and moved quickly down the gangway to warn the planes one hostess to get ready for a rowdy flight. Waving to his new acquaintainces he squeezed around the cabin door to begin the departure checklist.

 

[CollegeCutie]

Noelani

Noelani sat towards the back of the group, not really paying attention to the conversation taking place among the rest of the women. Instead she had her ear pressed against the hale wall trying to listen to the elder's stories, the lauhala in her lap practicaly untouched.

Today his story was of the the pig god Kamapua'a and his attempts to woo the goddess Pele.

Much like Makani she had never really understood the kapu allowing women to only perform certain duties in the tribe. She would much rather be outside tending a fire than stuck inside a crowded hut weaving baskets. After the meal she planned on sneaking away for a swim in the lagoon. Maybe she would ask Makani if she wanted to come with.

 

[im_invisible69]

Cho

We were gathered around the mens fire finishing our dinner. As always the discussion circled around who was going out fishing tomorrow...it was my turn to lead canoe group of four, and where yesterday's group projected the best fishing to be. Today's group hasn't returned yet. That is also normal as they are pledged to remain out until they make a respectable catch. There is nothing worse than having to come back to the village empty handed. Even though it happens to everyone eventually, the teasing makes life just about unbearable. Besides you have to have a good catch in addition to your art to impress the women!

Soon the left overs would be passed to the women's fire. There was almost always plenty, and when there isn't the men, by silent decree, make sure there is enough for the women and children. There have been times where that wasn't the case, however, the wise women have a way of correcting that oversight in short order!

The sun would be setting in an hour or so, finding myself stated, I moved to my customary spot by a large tree and continue working on a beautiful necklace. Someday it will adorn my next partner, or I'll give it to my son when he is of an age to impress his first partner. I looked up and spied my children gamboling around the fire, obviously finished with their meal, with the other children. One more year and my son would be joining the men's fire....that will be a day to remember, for both of us.

I absently look at all the gathered strength of our village and smile...we are strong, no other village has dared to threaten us in many moons..***** is good....I wonder if I will have comfort tonight...it's hard to know as the choice usually lies with the women...unless there is to be a permanent partnering, which has very specific and sometimes violent rules. That is not in my immediate future...

Then sun sets over this idyllic place, just another day in my life....