Zebina's phone rings.
Zebina jumps, sort of startled.
Daimon looks at Zebina.
Daimon says "You're very popular."
Zebina looks a bit sheepish as she reaches in and opens it up.
Zebina says "Probably the business call I was waiting for."
Zebina says "Hello?"
Zebina says "...Yes, this is she. Is everything all right?"
Daimon looks bugged.
Zebina mmms. "Well, that doesn't sound like wonderful news but..."
Zebina says "Do you need me tonight, or will it wait until morning?"
Zebina says "I'm not sure exactly what I can do on short notice."
Zebina says "All right. I'll probably be back at the hanger later tonight, just in case. Talk to you tomorrow?"
Daimon shifts weight.
Zebina gives Daimon a 'Sorry, it's business' look.
Daimon nods, knowingly.
Zebina says "Good bye. Take care, okay?"
Zebina sighs, looks a little worried.
Daimon says "Work?"
Zebina nods. "Yes, an associate. I might have been needed in short notice, but it turns out not to be the case."
Daimon looks a bit relieved.
Daimon figures they are still walking toward the Opera House.
Zebina shrugs. "Welcome to the exciting world of air cargo transport. One time I wound up flying to Rwanda on four hours notice with a big old surplus C-130 full of food and medicine."
Daimon says "That's... something. The worst I'll be called in on is an on the spot mooning."
Zebina looks around. "Things seem to have quieted down some here. Still hearing things?"
Daimon says "Reverbs. Not much. It suddenly got quiet."
Zebina says "'Reverbs'?"
Zebina says "I heard the one scream. Didn't seem to echo much."
Daimon says "Probably my head ringing."
Zebina says "Mmm. You okay? You look a little jumpy."
Zebina says this despite having nearly jumped a foot upwards when her phone rang.
Daimon says "Yeah, I'm okay. Just a little nervous."
Zebina says "Should we keep going, or would you like another drink back at the bar?"
Daimon says "We should keep going. I'll get a drink on the way back. I figure I'll need it."
Zebina shrugs. "I was going to take a cab back to the airport. I can take it from the bar as easily as the Opera House, but sure."
Zebina strolls along.
Daimon grins, a little nervously. "Glad to see the entire evening won't be ruined by this.
Zebina smiles back. "Well, y'know. Me big bad Kiwi pilot, nerves of steel and all that rot. One scream is creepy, but nothing another glass won't fix."
Daimon says "True. There is nothing beer can't fix. Except maybe death and life threatening injuries."
Daimon figures they should be getting there about now.
Zebina too.
Daimon is looking around in interest.
Zebina looks around the empty area.
Daimon says "Nothing here now."
Zebina says "Not a soul was stirring, not even a mouse..."
Daimon says "Or a moose,"
Daimon looks around the empty area in interest.
Daimon shrugs. And yawns.
Daimon says "What do you think?"
Daimon looks at Elizabeth.
Zebina says "I think you look like you need another pint."
Daimon says "I think you're right."
Daimon says "I must have been hallucinating."
Daimon starts wandering back to the bar nee' tether of Eli.
Zebina says "And since you were nice enough to buy the last round, this one's on me."
Zebina walks along with, usually about a half step ahead of Daimon, although maybe that's just his slouch.
Daimon says "Cool. I'm happy to buy, but I won't pass up an offer."
Zebina says "It's traditional."
Daimon says "It's an even deal."
Zebina laughs. "Well, you're drinking pints and I'm drinking glasses, but yes, it's traditional."
Daimon says "Well, I suppose I couldn't have let you get away with allowing me to do you any favors, if you know what I mean."
Daimon grins, in a vague sort of way.
Zebina says "Mmm? What's wrong with favors?"
Zebina says "It's not like you're getting a free flight to Aspen or anything."
Zebina says "A glass here, a pint there. Helps the world go round."
Daimon says "Oh, the universe has its way of keeping score. You know, TANSTAAFL."
Daimon says "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, baby."
Zebina says "Oh of course there is."
Daimon says "Even the little stuff gets remembered."
Daimon says "No, really, there isn't."
Daimon waggles a finger. "Everything has a price.
Zebina smiles. "Mr. Lightner, I can personally guarantee that I've flown several hundred thousand tons worth of free lunches, breakfasts, and suppers about the globe."
Daimon grins. "Then there are some people who really owe you one in a pinch. Should you need it."
Zebina says "I wouldn't have necessarily wanted to be on the receiving end, but they were certainly free and unplanned for on the part of their recepients."
Daimon says "They weren't free. Those people had to suffer to get those meals. See? TANSTAAFL."
Daimon says "Not everything is a monetary transaction."
Zebina says "They were suffering anyways, Mr. Lightner."
Daimon says "And you alleviated their pain. You gave them something they need. Now, you may never call it in, but they do owe you one. It's up to you to look the other way."
Zebina says "Of course, if you want to view CARE and UNICEF and the World Food Bank as the ones paying for lunch, that's your right. And they don't owe me a thing. I was compensated for my time."
Daimon says "See? There you go. Nothing is free. Transactions make the world go round."
Zebina holds the door open for Daimon. "If there's no such thing as a free lunch, is there such a thing as a free door hold?"
Daimon walks in the door.
Zebina says "Oh, no argument there. But there are such things as lunches, freely given."
Daimon says "No. I'll do something for you later... but it'll be some random weird time that you don't expect."
Daimon says "You can give of the kindness of your heart, I suppose."
Zebina laughs. "My, if the performer's that way, your agent must be utterly terrifying."
Daimon says "My agent is absolutely hilarious. Trust me."
Zebina says "As you say."
Daimon says "And I do, in fact."
Zebina says "More food, or shall we skip directly to the rounds?"
Daimon says "I say, dive for the booze."
Zebina nods, tucking her skirt under her as she sits on a barstool. "Excuse me, Miss, a pint of Samuel Adams for the gent here, and I'll have a glass of Harp's."
Daimon sits on the bar stool.
The bartender pulls a tall pint of Samuel Adams, and a glass of Harp's Lager, sets them on the bar on coasters, and arranges for a basket of bar snacks to appear between the drinks.
Zebina pays, tips generously.
Daimon raises and eyebrow, then drinks some beer.
Daimon picks at the snacks.
Daimon says "So anyway."
Zebina tries some of the bar snacks. "Ooh, sesame sticks."
Daimon says "Indeed. A great invention of some man, somewhere in time. Maybe the Lord of Sesame."
Zebina says "What a lovely bar."
Daimon looks around.
Daimon says "I can't believe this place exists."
Daimon says "It's one of those places where you sit in the back and argue Kafka until you pass out on the floor."
The lights are bright enough for you to actually identify the color differences between the Harp's and the Sam Adams, and all the sports memorabilia appears to be authentic and local, and only enough to show team loyalty (even to the Caps). There are a few pool tables in the back, along with a pinball machine or two, a jukebox loaded with excellent drinking music, and a small but well laid out area where one could put a live band and twenty five or so dancers, if one wished.
Daimon eyes the area for the live band with a critical eye.
Daimon says "Good acoustics."
Zebina says "This is impressive."
Zebina looks over the 'daily specials' list. "Pity it's not closer to the airport."
Daimon says "You can't have everything."
Zebina says "Huh. They have an 'after Opera' special. Maybe I'll come by the night after the show."
Daimon grins wryly. "See? TANSTAAFL. You pay with legwork."
Daimon says "Maybe. I dunno if I'm going to see that Opera."
Zebina laughs. "And what's wrong with a little legwork? Keeps one in shape."
Daimon says "But I like sitting around getting flabby."
Zebina says "No?"
Zebina says "I thought it looked good."
Zebina eyes Daimon's middle for a moment.
Daimon shrugs. "I don't know. We'll see what happens."
Daimon is very fit.
Zebina smiles. "You'd actually have to go to find out, wouldn't you?"
Daimon says "Well, uh, yeah.""
Daimon says "Oh, don't use logic on me."
Zebina says "Oh come on. If nothing else you could do a routine on it, couldn't you? Daimon Lightner's Night at the Opera, tonight on HBO?"
Zebina says "Or are you on Cinemax?"
Daimon says "HBO."
Daimon says "This is true."
Zebina says "I haven't seen HBO in ages."
Daimon looks suspicious. "Are you asking me out... on a date?
Zebina looks a little startled. "Well, I hadn't actually thought of it that way. I mean, you do have tickets already, don't you?"
Daimon says "Nope."
Zebina says "You seemed like you knew the stage manager well enough."
Zebina says "And well known showbusiness types always seem to be able to get in easily enough."
Daimon says "Why, this is true. I could always finagle something. Besides, people always need something in return for something as simple as tickets."
Zebina nods.
Daimon bites his lip, and then takes another drink.
Zebina pulls out three or four tickets from her jacket. "Hmm. I wonder what I'll do with these."
Daimon looks at the tickets.
Daimon says "You have three other friends in town?"
Zebina says "Not really. A few associates I could ask, I suppose."
Daimon says "Did you get the tickets as a gift or something?"
Zebina says "Most of my friends are in Europe or spread out. You know, other pilots, people you run into for the first time in five years in Zambia."
Daimon nods, but not really knowingly.
Zebina says "They were a 'bennie' on a business transaction."
Daimon says "Gotcha."
Zebina says "I think I owe someone part of a flight to Vail when I fly the Electra out."
Zebina says "You can get a free lunch, but not a free flight."
Daimon waggles a finger. "See? SEE? Equal transactions."
Daimon says "I know what I'm talkin' about."
Zebina laughs. "Mr. Lightner, I merely said there was such thing as a free lunch, not free trips to Aspen."
Daimon says "You can call me Daimon."
Zebina says "All right, you may call me Elizabeth. In two more rounds you may call me Liz, if we're still speaking to one another."
Daimon laughs out loud.
Daimon says "EXCELLENT!"
Zebina looks a bit taken aback.
Zebina says "Mmm, maybe three rounds."
Daimon grins sort of lopsided. "Maybe less."
Zebina tsks. "You Yanks. I've been all the way round the world ten times and more, and I bet you're thinking mostly about how much beer you can get into me and how close the hotel is."
Daimon says "I ain't tellin'."
Daimon grins, obviously joking.
Zebina smiles. "You don't need to. Change the accent a bit, and we could be back in Auckland."
Zebina sips her beer.
Daimon says "Never been there. I've been to, uh, hmmm... some pretty weird places, though."
Zebina says "Oh? Any good stories?"
Daimon says "I did live in France for a while, but that was a long time ago. A really long time ago."
Daimon says "Hmmm... stories..."
Daimon says "I performed behind chicken wire in a country western bar down in Tennessee."
Daimon says "They threw bottles and shit at me, and I was playing rhythm guitar. I performed stand up in Nashville the next day."
Zebina says "Goodness. How did that go? You don't look at all the type."
Daimon shrugs. "I was on one of my 'missions of discovery'.
Zebina says "What did you discover?"
Daimon says "That I don't like country western bars."
Zebina takes another few sips.
Zebina says "Well, no surprise there."
Daimon downs the rest of his beer.
Daimon says "Not my scene. I was off looking for a soul again. Never found it, but I keep looking."
Zebina politely drinks down the rest of her glass, so that Daimon might order the next round.
Daimon says "The New England circuit was pretty bad. Performing to old ladies who are gumming their meat load."
Daimon says "Er, loaf."
Zebina says "A soul? Did you lose yours? Or is that one of your routines?"
Daimon calls for another round, and puts a $20 on the bar.
Daimon says "No, it's a private quest. I didn't lose it, I just need to look at it sometimes."
Daimon says "I'm a hopeless mystic when I get too full of booze."
Daimon says "Sort of that Sufi mysticism worry about Death and look for God sort of things."
The bartender appears with such alacrity you'd swear she was magical. She waits a few seconds just in case the orders have changed, and when they haven't, another pint of Sam Adams and a glass of Harp's appear on the bar, along with correct change and eno
ugh ones for proper tipping.
Daimon says "Mostly wandering around and making a fool of myself."
Daimon tips the bartender well.
Zebina looks delighted. "And you do this by going to do stand up in Kentucky? Oh, you poor dear."
Daimon says "I'm a little insane sometimes. But the major cities have comedy clubs."
Zebina says "Yes. After tonight, I think maybe I'll try a few of them."
Zebina says "Although I doubt I'll try to examine my soul inside one."
Daimon says "Well, you don't do it inside the clubs, at least not most of the time. That's what the long walks while you aren't working are for."
Zebina nods.
Zebina says "I have long flights. Plenty of time for introspection then, at least when the weather's good."
Zebina thinks. "Well, when the weather's bad too, but a lot of people claim it's under duress during those times."
Daimon says "But I tell you, I'll go insane if I'm alone for really long periods of time. You know, in Buddhism, they say Hell is just looking inside yourself and seeing who you really are? Wack."
Zebina says "And Sartre said 'Hell is other people'."
Zebina smiles. "So are you a Buddhist or an Existientialist?"
Daimon says "Definitely Existentialist."
Daimon says "But I think Sartre needed to get out some."
Zebina laughs softly. "I agree. Well, with the 'get out some' part. Really, people are very nice. When you travel round you realize that most folks are wonderful, given half a chance and a friendly face."
Daimon says "And some people can be pretty bad. It depends on the crowd."
Zebina nods. "I've flown relief flights to Rwanda, remember? That's the extreme case, though."
Daimon says "I mean pretty bad, as in pretty bad, not sick. But I can't imagine the refuges in Rwanda."
Zebina says "That was bad."
Daimon says "I guess."
Zebina looks a little haunted for a moment, "Man's inhumanity to man, at its worst, really."
Zebina says "Everyone so afraid of the other group that they'll do anything to 'defend' themselves. Including strike first."
Zebina sighs.
Daimon says "Humanity can do the most amazing things to each other."
Zebina looks over, "What, no 'we'?"
Daimon looks a little started. "It's an implied 'we'."
Zebina says "Oh, okay."
Daimon says "Never fails to amazing me, from the highest heights to the lowest lows."
Zebina says "Usually when the refugee staff and the relief pilots and everyone sits around having these discussions, people either start denying membership in humanity, or emphasize how much they're a part of it. Depends on the person.""
Daimon says "I'm just making statements, actually. I haven't denied anything."
Daimon drinks more beer.
Zebina keeps up, proportionally speaking.
Daimon says "People are just very... interesting."
Zebina says "Still, you can be in the pit of the world, and you take off, and five minutes later the sun comes up over the horizon and you feel like you're dancing on the clouds."
Zebina grins. "And that's flying out of Newark, too."
Daimon says "Hmmm."
Daimon takes a contemplative drink.
Daimon says "I have an analog to that, mostly when I'm playing music."
Zebina ticks off a few things, 'Good runway, excellent facilities. Don't run your plane off the runway or you wind up in a toxic waste dump five hundred meters on.'
Daimon says "Not as often as I'd like, but I know the feeling."
Zebina says "But don't worry. That's for the 'light planes'. If they dump a passenger jet, you can eat off the ground, no worries."
Daimon says "Well, I worry if I'm eating off the ground. On general principles."
Zebina says "Okay, fair enough."
Zebina looks at your pint glass. "My round?"
Daimon says "I think so."
Zebina says "So, you play... bass guitar you said?"
Daimon says "Accoustic mostly. I'll play Bass if I'm playing Jazz."
Zebina signals the bartender, who does that magical little act of hers, passing Daimon another pint.
Zebina says "What other styles do you play?"
Daimon says "Classical, some flamenco. Sometimes some really annoying rock riffs. Depends on my mood."
Zebina says "Flamenco?"
Zebina laughs. "How unusual."
Daimon says "You know, uh, Spanish. Some folk guitar."
Daimon says "Just normal fooling around. It's something I do on the side."
Zebina nods. "I fly to South America all the time. It's quite popular down there, I hear."
Zebina flicks Daimon a sesame stick.
Daimon says "Sure it is."
Daimon eats the sesame stick.
Daimon says "It came from there. It's a nice sound."
Zebina sips her round. The Irish make such good beer.
Daimon drinks.
Daimon chews thoughtfully on his lower lip.
Zebina asks, "More profound statements of humanity on the way? Or are you thinking up lines that will get you a second date, or both?"
Daimon says "Both."
Zebina laughs.
Daimon says "Enough alcohol works like truth serum on my brain."
Zebina says "Ambitious, aren't you?"
Daimon says "Alawys."
Zebina says "I suppose you have to be, to be a big show business star."
Daimon says "Ambition is important, but I can't remember why anymore."
Zebina says "Oh."
Zebina mmms. "Well, you're from L.A. right? I hear everyone wants to be a star there."
Daimon says "Everyone wants to sit in traffic there."
Zebina says "On their cellphones and porta-faxes?"
Zebina raises an eyebrow.
Daimon says "You're talking Hollywood. It's like a snakes nest. It's continuous politics."
Zebina shrugs. "That's no different than anywhere else."
Daimon says "Money this, power lunch that. Where your agent wants you, what jobs you can land."
Zebina says "Try customs agents if you like politics."
Daimon says "It's stressful living, but it's fun in its own way."
Zebina says "So fun you spend most of your time on the road?"
Daimon says "I get to meet all sorts of new people."
Zebina says "Strange work for an existentialist."
Daimon says "Eh. My Agent knows what he's doing. I have faith in him."
Daimon says "I'm a philosopher when I can be one. The job comes first, though."
Zebina smiles. "I'm not a philosopher. I'm a pilot. I like it that way."
Daimon says "It's good to know where you belong."
Zebina nods. "There's planes, and there's cargo, and there's tight schedules. As long as all three are around, I'll manage."
Daimon says "Well, it's good to be happy with what you do."
Zebina sips her beer. "That's God's own truth, Daimon." She gives a happy little sigh, and then takes rather more time than is necessary on a sesame stick.
Daimon says "I dunno about that God guy. I'm a skeptic."
Zebina smiles. "I can't say that's a surprise."
Daimon says "Oh, I've always been skeptical."
Zebina says "Mother Teresa once said something about seeing God in the eyes of the poor, you know. A very wise woman, she was. She'll be missed."
Zebina raises her glass in a silent toast.
Daimon drinks.
Daimon says "See a man who is sure of himself and I will show you a man who is unsure, for in this world of uncertainty we cannot know what the world holds for us. Jung."
Zebina says "So it's to be philosophical quotes to the death is it?"
Daimon says "Always."
Daimon grins.
Zebina says "Then I'll surrender early and have another sesame stick."
Zebina does so.
Daimon says "There is no evil so great that no good can come from it. That's another deep maxim."
Zebina says "Faith is a very personal thing, you know."
Daimon says "I think I left mine in Nebraska."
Zebina says "Was it happy there?"
Daimon says "It was, in fact, very flat."
Zebina says "Nebraska has very nice airports. It's a bit hard to navigate, though."
Zebina says "GPS has fixed that problem, though. Very nicely."
Daimon says "Well, I'm not big on corn."
Zebina says "It's not particularly profitable, and I only haul it in emergency situations. Still, it's cargo, and if people want it somewhere, it flies just as well as a case of orange juice."
Zebina says "And there's usually more call for it than orange juice, come to think of it."
Daimon says "True. I just found it to be flat."
Zebina sets down an empty glass.
Zebina says "Fair enough. I think we're out of sesame crackers, as well."
Daimon nods.
Zebina gets out a business card, scrawls something on it.
Daimon takes the card.
Zebina hands you the card. "Back number's the cellphone, the front number's the hanger and the pager bit on the phone."
Daimon says "Thanks. Does this mean I get to see you tomorrow?"
Zebina says "Give us a call, hmm? I might have an extra ticket if you're insistant on seeing enough of the opera to make a routine of."
Daimon nods.
Daimon says "I'll take you up on the offer. What can I do for you?"
Zebina smiles, a bright little flash of white teeth and green eyes out from under one of those waves of red hair. "Maybe. I was thinking of stopping by for one of the rehearsals around midmorning, if nothing else much develops on the business end."
Zebina says "Mmm? For me? Not a thing. Buy someone a free lunch sometime, perhaps."
Daimon loks bugged.
Daimon says "I have to do something for you."
Zebina plucks out one of the tickets and sticks it in your jacket pocket. "Just what I said. Buy someone a nice free lunch sometime. Someone who needs it. It'll do me good. You too."
Zebina says "And I'll know that somewhere out there is a nice free lunch, winging its way about the country, doing stand up."
Zebina says "It's a comforting thought."
Daimon looks really bugged.
Daimon sighs, and closes his eyes.
Zebina mmms. "Well not 'free' per se, since it'll have been paid for with the ticket, but it won't matter to the person who gets it, so that's good enough for me."
Daimon says "Okay. But don't ask for that favor to be returned lightly."
Zebina gets up, her eyebrow raised just a tad. "Well, if it's going to compromise your principles... perhaps something else?"
Daimon says "No.... no... I'll take it. It's fine. But just ask for something in return lightly. That's all."
Zebina looks a tad puzzled. "Um, all right."
Daimon grins in sort of a weird way. "I just hope what you ask for is fun.
Zebina laughs. "That depends. Do you like roller coasters?"
Daimon says "They make me throw up, so that would be a yes."
Zebina says "Oh good."
Zebina rubs her hands together. "We'll figure out something."
Zebina leans over and gives you a quick little hug. "It was good meeting you, Daimon Lightner."
Daimon says "It was good meeting you, Elizabeth Barkley."
Daimon gives a strange little grin.
Zebina touches your nose. "That's Bradley." She counts empties on the table. "And 'Liz', as you survived the requisite number of rounds."
Daimon laughs.
Daimon says "I'm a little drunk."
Zebina mmms. "Just a bit. Let me get you a cab."
Zebina takes your arm. "Come on."
Daimon stumbles off the stool and gets led.
Zebina leaves an extra $10 bill on the bar as she departs.
Zebina says "You're staying at the DC Hilton?"
Daimon says "Nah. Holiday Inn."
Zebina says "Oh, right."
Zebina holds up a hand for a cab.
Zebina says "Have the address with you?"
A cab pulls over to a halt fairly promptly.
Daimon nods, and pulls a scrap of paper out of his pocket, along with a harmonica, a rubber nose, a strange pen, a squirting flower, and a hand buzzer.
Daimon shoves the rest of the stuff back in his pocket.
Zebina blinks. "You're quite full of surprises, aren't you. Part of your act?"
Daimon says "No, just my normal junk. You never can tell when you need a hand buzzer."
Zebina says "All right."
Zebina helps stuff you in the back of the cab, gives the address to the driver. Twice. Along with directions.
Daimon nods knowingly, like it's one of the world's truths.
Daimon says "I'll call ya tomorrow. BEware of big disturbances."
Daimon leans back in the seat and closes his eyes.
Zebina smiles. "As you say. Good night."
The cab zooms off.
Zebina hails another cab herself, back to the airport, and her nice, comfy, pull-out sofa bed.
---