Alaska: Arrival
Alaska: Arrival
It seemed that all airliners liked to keep the inside of their flight cabins dry. But the frequency with which Warner's neighbor kept licking his lips was disgruntling. At first he wanted to ask if the wolf sitting next to him needed water, until he figured out the constant licking wasn't do to dehydration.
It'd seemed a funny coincidence, and Warner had decided to give his neighbor the benefit of the doubt. One of the flight attendants had walked by, a tall raccoon sporting shapely hips and an ample bust. Her ringed tail swayed casually as she stopped to attend to another passenger, an older bear who was still distraught that her original seat had been double booked and she had been the one moved.
The wolf's gaze had followed along her back, and down, stopping at the base of her miniskirt, Warner was sure. Then, his tongue had crept out of his muzzle to slide over his lips. PREDATOR. Was the first word that popped into Warner's mind.
"You know... They used to be prettier." The wolf sighed, though his tongue whipped out again as the raccoon bent back up and walked away from the bear.
"Huh?" Warner replied, looking to the wolf.
"The attendants. They used to be prettier." The wolf clarified. "I remember back in the 70's when they were the most beautiful girls anywhere... I even got with a few."
"Really?" Warner replied out of courtesy.
"Oh yeah. They get free flights anywhere they want. It was nice. You just sign in their name, and find a flight with an open seat and away you went."
"I bet that was nice."
"It was. But it was a huge hassle and they weren't paid well." The wolf pulled at the fur on his chin. "O' course, they all age the same. Like that women over there." The wolf pointed a sausage like finger towards a decrepit old rabbit, bent over in her seat, with a wide brimmed hat, and frail-bony fingers.
"Nah. Some age well."
"Pfft. No. They don't. And they don't need to."
"And what do you mean by that?"
"Well. Once they hit a certain age it's over. They pass their prime and no one is interested. But they aren't after long relationships anyways." The wolf's lip curled slightly as he finished, his ears lowering. "It took me three marriages to figure that out."
"Wow... I'm sorry." Warner replied, unsure what he should say to such a statement.
"No. It's a good thing. Now, I make sure they understand I'm not in it to marry, or be there. I just want to have fun. Because let me tell you, there is one thing that women are after. Power. And for men there are three things that represent power; money, influence, and men with women. And so if you want to keep a woman, you have to have all three. She'll never leave you if she thinks you keep her around because she represents power."
"I don't think..."
"O' course you don't. Look at yah. I doubt you've had many serious relationships. What are yah? Frosh? Sophomore? What college do you go to?"
"I just got out of High school four days ago."
"And you're going up to Alaska why?"
"My father got me a job up there." Warner answered, pleased that wolf had mistaken his age. He worked hard to maintain what his friends loving called an older look. He had let his mane grow out instead of cutting it down and away like was common, he was taller, and dressed in fitting shirts and pants devoid of 'inappropriate and immature' writings and images as his mother and father would say. He kept himself clean. It helped too that his build was larger than most other lions his age. He looked far more adult than the other six lions who had graduated with him.
"Nice. What does it pay?"
"About sixteen-fifty."
"Doing what?"
"Apprenticeship. Electrician. And it pays better than nearly every job open back in Oregon... Most of our market died out when the motor home companies perished."
"Oh, so you're from Oregon?"
"Yeah. It's a nice place."
"Yeah. I remember I was there on one trip. Portland."
"Yeah. I've been to Portland. Busy place... As far as cities are concerned in Oregon at least."
"It wasn't bad. Where in Oregon are you from?"
"Eugene originally. But I finished school in a small town."
"Eugene. I've heard of it. How big is it?"
"Well... That depends on who you ask. Most people from Eugene consider Springfield part of Eugene, but springfielders want to be separate. Then you have Eugene and downtown Eugene."
"What's the difference with them?"
"Springfield is more ghetto. Eugene is more mixed politically and urban. Downtown is more liberal and city-ish."
"Huh. Sounds interesting. I'm from Denver myself. Nothing special about it. That's why I left."
"Ha. Kind of why I took this job. I wanted to get out of the rain. Winter, spring and fall. All it does is rain. Summer. It gets hotter, but it will still rain. I hate the rain."
"Well. I hear it isn't supposed to rain too much in Alaska."
"Oh, it's dry. I love it. I went up with my father when they moved up and I loved it."
"You've already been up?" The wolf asked tilting his ears.
"Yeah. This is my fourth time. Once in the winter, summer, spring, and fall."
"How is it with all of the sun and night?"
"Well. It's not to bad. Like I myself didn't really sleep. I didn't need to. So I could stay up to three in the morning, fishing, playing games, and walking. Whatever. And it was like it was noon. Got colder... But it was like noon. And I had people tell me there was a bit of night at like two a.m. There isn't. The sun looks like it might be setting, but it is really rising again."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah, and winter isn't too bad either. It's dark, but it becomes dusk at like noon. It's cold. But if you wear warm enough clothes you can be out for a while and not feel it."
"What's the temperature like?"
"Coldest day was negative fifty... and I can't really describe it. You step outside and your nose goes dry and your lips too. If you breathe in too deep you feel it in you chest. But really you have to experience it."
"Wow."
"Yeah." Warner leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
"Excuse me sir." A hand tapped at Warner's shoulder and the lion jerked awake.
"Huh? Yes?"
"Would you like something to drink?" The stewardess asked, smiling.
"Water please." He smiled back, blinking to try and get himself awake and aware. The stewardess poured the water into a plastic cup and handed it over, then pushed the cart along.
"She liked you." He teased, watching the stewardess.
"She's at least forty."
"And into you. She wants some fresh meat." The wolf grinned and took a sip from his soda. Warner rolled his eyes and downed his water, running his tongue over his lips afterwards.
"Any idea why they keep these cabins so dry?" He sighed, looking at his now empty plastic cup and wishing for more.
"You a virgin?" the wolf ignored Warner's question. He stared at the wolf dumbly, managing a 'huh?' "A virgin. Have you ever been with a girl? Popped your cherry so to speak."
"Yes." Warner lied, regretting it the instant he had said it.
"Nice. Did she go to your school?"
"Yeah. She was a good friend." Warner spoke, thinking of Leara and deciding she wouldn't mind if he ever told her of this encounter. "She's a Coyote. Beautiful. Smart. Nice. Everything."
"Bah. You don't need anything but looks with women. Here. Look." The wolf pulled out his phone and browsed through the pictures. He pressed a button and a picture of a vixen popped up. She was pretty, and leaning against a bathroom wall, wearing only a t-shirt and panties. "This is my current girl."
"Nice."
"Yeah. But I figure in a year or two if we're still together, then I'll trade her in for a newer model." The wolf's grin was large and sly, like what he had just said was the perfect plan. And maybe for him it was Warner reasoned. But for Himself, he didn't want to be permanently on and off relationships. Sure, while he was a bachelor, he'd have fun and play around, but he wanted a permanent relationship.
"Heh."
"You know what you need to do?"
"What?"
"Once you get landed, set yourself up in a gym with a trainer, and get fit. Like benching 300 to 400 pounds... Then get cleaned up, cut that mane of yours down, and get yourself some gym sluts."
"I don't want to be lifting that much. I'm fine with how I am now. I'm fit. Just not body builder." Warner replied, noting how the wolf himself wasn't in great shape, especially his mid region where his gut bulged over the seat belt.
"You don't know what you're talking about. Trust me. I mean I can't make you. Hell. I don't even know who you are. I'm just trying to give you my advice." The wolf sighed, looking out the window.
"Well, you've certainly given me advice." Warner smiled and proffered his hand. "I'm Warner Norman by the way."
"Good. I'm Nathanial. Call me Nate though."
"Well. Nate. Thank you for your advice. I'll consider it all when I'm settled in." The wolf's ears perked and he smiled, the tip of his tail wagged.
"Well, I can only hope so. But Just get into shape, and get yourself respectable and you'll be fine."
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN. WE WILL BE LANDING WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES SO PLEASE TURN ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES OFF, BUCKLE YOUR SEATS, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED FLYING WITH AIR ALASKA."
"Finally." The wolf sighed, turning his phone off. Warner did the same with his and looked to his left, where the third passenger in his aisle was located. Warner had forgotten the badger was even on the plane. He'd fallen asleep watching a movie on his ipad, which was now running through the start menu.
There was a shift in Warner's gut and the plane began to dip down. Out the window, the ground slowly came into existence, then roads and houses. The wheels pulled free from the plane, and shortly after, they touched down.
_ "ONCE AGAIN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR FLYING AIR ALASKA, I HOPE YOU HAVE HAD A GREAT FLIGHT, AND PLEASE ALLOW ME TO BE THE FIRST TO WELCOME YOU TO FAIRBANKS ALASKA_." The captain spoke over the intercom. Warner unbuckled and waited for the badger to stand and grab his luggage from the overhead carry-on. The badger however seemed perfectly happy with sitting and waiting until every other passenger had walked off the plane before standing and walking off without even opening the overhead.
"You mean he never had anything other than that tablet?" Nate asked. Warner nodded. "Dam. He could have been first person to leave."
"Yeah." Warner agreed, standing and grabbing his laptop bag from the overhead. "Anyways. It was a pleasure talking to you Nate. Thanks for helping pass the flight."
"No problem man. Thank you too."
"Have a good stay in Alaska." Warner waved, walking off and pulling his phone out of his pocket. After turning it back on he dialed his mother. She picked up after the second ring.
"Hello mum. I just landed."
"Hey Warner. How was the trip?"
"Long."
"Anything exciting happen?"
"Well. I just talked with the most sexist man I've ever met." Warner smiled at his mother's scoff reply of *scoffs*.
"Well. That's the world."
'He wanted me to work out at a gym and get some 'gym sluts'"
"Hahaha. Really?"
"Oh yeah."
"Did you tell him?"
"No. It's none of his business."
"You're right. Oh! I heard back from the group finally! P-Flag meets every third Sunday. I forwarded his message but once you get a car you can start going."
"Awesome. Thanks mum."
"Love you. Stay in contact."
"Love you mom. I will. Bye."
"Bye." Warner hung up and started walking the short distance to his luggage, typing out a text 'just landed. See you soon dad.'
~ Ayer Hale