Stone Men In Water Street

[Bjorn]

Bjorn parks on the street outside the Sheraton.  "Leave your door unlocked," he advises Rez, locking his own.  "Now, grab whatever bags you've got," seizing his own satchel, "and let's go.  We'll go into the hotel, browse around the lobby shops for a couple minutes, and then head out and wait for the shuttle."

[Rezantis]

Rez nods, gettig his laptop bag - the warbag being offhanded - and follows Bjorn.

[Brian]

You're probably only perusing the arcade for about fifteen minutes when you see a few other people start streaming towards the exit, and presumably, the shuttle.

[Rezantis]

Rez taps Bjorn on the shoulder and they both head out to the entrance, where the shuttle bus is hopefully waiting . . .

[Bjorn]

Bjorn follows Rez.

[Brian]

The shuttle is waiting, and no one is asking for reciepts or anything else outlandish ... everything appears to be in order.  Shortly, the driver scans the steps up the hotel to see if there are any stragglers (there aren't), shrugs, and closes the doors.

The shuttle is actually pretty full, which is odd for this hour -- especially on a Monday.  It was last week that was Martin Luther King Jr.'s memorial day.

Regardless, you're quickly unloaded at the airport.

[Bjorn]

"All right," Bjorn says, shouldering his satchel.  "We have some time before the flight, right?  First order of business is probably to find a money exchanger, then."

[Brian]

A money changer is located, though it takes them a minute or two to load up the current information on Australian exchange rates (most flights from Oz go to LAX or Orlando).  However much money you wish to exchange is exchanged shortly thereafter.

[Bjorn]

"You done?"  Bjorn says, once Rez is done.  "Then let's get through security and to our gate."

[Brian]

You approach the gates warily, Rez wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and his (now customary) gloves.  Normal gloves instead of archery gloves.

The metal detector awaits ... after placing your bags on the security conveyers through the x-ray machine, you walk through the forboding metal arch.

Nathan, in the back, watches the little meter spike from two green bars to eight green bars and two yellow bars (clear of the red zone, at least) while Bjorn walks through, and then, it's his own turn.

Then the moment is passed, and he's through the sensor without any beeping.  Everything seems to be going well when the worst possible scenario happens -- security guards corner the pair of you, and demand to do a more thorough search.

Of Bjorn.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn spreads his hands -- not wide, but just enough to keep them clear of his bodies, palms facing out towards the officers, as if to say, 'hey, I'm harmless.'  Out loud, "Certainly.  What would you like me to do?"

[Brian]

They basically pat you down and make sure you're not carrying any concealed weapons, then eye you like they know you're up to something ... and let you go.

[Bjorn]

"That always happens to me," Bjorn grumbles, under his breath.  "Maybe I  need a different haircut or something."

Louder, he continues, "Anyways, let's get to the gate."

[Rezantis]

"Sounds like . . . a plan," Rez yawns, "the sooner we're out of here, the better."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn eyes Rez balefully, but says nothing.  Instead, he looks around for a departure info terminal (to get the gate number and the status of the flight), before leading the way to the gate.