Finally... Punching Africa!

[revolution_is_a_riot]

Who: The Rescue Party (Bahorel, Courfeyrac, Combeferre, Bossuet, and Jehan)
What: Embarking across the Atlantic to find their lost brethren
Summary: Plane rides, lions, supernatural encounters, and other African adventure shenanigans
Warnings: Language and Violence, very probable
General posting order will be determined by initial posts. (Intended as a loose guideline to prevent 5-person mayhem, and may change depending on who/how many are actively posting at a time.)
Status: Ongoing


Bahorel hummed absently to himself, lounging against a wall of the airport lobby. He checked his watch, ruffled through the stack of tickets in his hand, and tapped a foot against the backpack beside him. He was never very good at waiting.
Resisting the urge to wander around, he held his place impatiently, and waited for the others to arrive.

The pack at his feet was as small as he could manage, crammed with carefully planned supplies. It would be taken and stowed with the other baggage once they checked in, and he hadn't really brought anything in the way of carry-on luggage. Why burden himself more than he had to?
On the other hand, his lack of carry-on bags or frivolous objects meant that he was really, really not looking forward to this plane ride.

He hated planes.
Not because of the height, or the possibility of crashing and burning and death, but because they kept him trapped. Trapped in a tiny little excuse for a seat, crammed like a sardine next to other people (often strangers), with nothing to do. He hated being unable to move, to occupy himself with something physical.
Unless he was drunk, chatting with friends, or watching a movie, he was never one to sit still (and often didn't even during those activities). Plane rides were hell.
He desperately hoped he'd be able to just sleep through it. But he knew it was likely a lost cause. There was too much adrenaline pumping through his system already for sleep to be much of an option.
If only teleportation was real. Then he could just zap himself over there, and get started on the important stuff, without all the tedious waiting and sitting and stifling mind-numbing boredom in between.

He realized he was pacing, and made himself stop. The others would be here soon. It's not even that they were late, his impatience had driven him to arrive even earlier than they had planned. And once the others were here, he'd at least have conversation to occupy himself with, and maybe the plane would serve alcohol...

Comments

[courfeyraccat]

"I may be doing a bit of purposeful teasing." Courfeyrac grins. "I don't mind putting up with you on the plane ride, though. I'm sure I can be all sorts of distracting. And if all else fails, there's always buying a drink or two. Though we probably don't want to get drunk before getting to Africa. Actually, we might not want to get drunk with each other in the near future after last time."

Courfeyrac smiles at the woman who glances at their tickets and directs them to the proper line for security. She smiles back, a flicker of white teeth, and he feels himself relaxing even more. He's going to be traveling with friends, seeing new people, and the ultimate goal is saving other friends. Even if there's a lot of unknowns between now and that end, he's going to try to enjoy every minute of it. "Now, try not to get us pulled out of line as potential terrorists, all right? Today's one of those days I'm actually not up for a full-body pat-down, mainly because my arm's still sore from those ridiculous vaccines."

[revolution_is_a_riot]

Bahorel shoots Courfeyrac a suspicious glance. "Depends on what kind of distraction you're talking about..."
Personally, getting to Africa while drunk doesn't sound to bad to him. Hell, it might make things easier.

But, would be hours (and hours and hours) in the future. For now, Bahorel is happy to be moving again, even if forward progress means standing in line. Despite 'Fey's misgivings, their trip through security goes smoothly. For Bahorel's part, with his only luggage already given over to the airline employees, and the walk and the company improving his mood, there is little trouble to be had as he passes through the scanner.
Slipping back into his shoes, he waits for Courfeyrac to catch up before heading off down the long halls to their boarding area.

"So, what's the plan once we reach the other side?" He asks. He had helped plan for their packing and survival gear, and had shelled out for the tickets, but beyond that he had left the strategy of this rescue up to the others. Meaning Combeferre. And whoever he had talked with about it.
All in all, 'Fey was a good bet for more information.

[courfeyraccat]

"Depends on how smoothly our trip to the other side goes." Courfeyrac bends down, getting his shoes and socks and pants back in the proper alignment. "Hopefully we're going to land, find a local guide, and head toward where they might have washed ashore. We're partially betting on Enjolras tending to be noticeable--and all this supernatural stuff making him more noticeable. We'll ask for information, we'll get a heading, and we'll find them. Then we'll head for home."

Courfeyrac rubs at the back of his neck as some of the tension from the morning returns. "The other possibility is that whatever brought down their plane brings down ours, in which case we swim like crazy for shore and then try to find any trail they might have left while keeping ourselves and everyone else alive for as long as we can. And not bleeding on the ground."

[decipheredhieroglyphics]

Combeferre is glad to get through security without being interrogated over his bag's contents. His checked bag, he was assured, followed all the rules and would reach its destination. Now to find Bahorel and Courfeyrac and the others.

He reached in his pocket for his cell phone and sent a message to each of the others.

"Just got through security -- sorry I'm late. Where are you?"

He bought a bottle of water -- then a second one, upon further thought, just in case things went wrong later -- and shoved them both in his cargo pants as he waited for a reply.

[revolution_is_a_riot]

"Simple enough," Bahorel grins, "I like it."
He snaps his fingers and claps his hands together, fidgeting now that his baggage is gone. "Wanna get a beer?" He suggests, defaulting to the first time-waster that springs to mind.

They stop at one of the over-priced cafes that line up like dominoes in between the boarding gates, and Bahorel gets himself a drink and a sandwich. After which, he lounges around in the hard plastic chairs at the boarding gate. They aren't there for too long before his phone beeps. A few seconds later, 'Fey's phone twitters as well, and Bahorel sets his food down with a raised eyebrow at his friend. "Someone we know."

Slipping his phone out of his pocket, he taps it awake to read the message. He refrains from commenting more out loud, as he assumes Fey is busy checking it for himself, and quickly types out a reply.
"Boarding gate. See you in a few."

He watches people go by for a while, chats with the others, gets up and paces around, browses nearby stores, sits back down and lays back (taking up 3 seats in a row), and has just finally slipped into a light snooze, when the first call to board finally sounds.

[courfeyraccat]

"Combeferre!" Courfeyrac throws his arms around his friend, heedless to his sore muscles. "I see that you're ready to go. Are those water bottles in your pants, or are you just thrilled to see me?"

It's good to have Combeferre here. It's good to be moving forward, getting things done, and he's grinning widely as he releases his friend. Let whatever monsters there are come at them, human or otherwise. They're ready.

The others gather, and Courfeyrac greets each of them with a grin and hug. By the time the call to start boarding the plane comes he's moved on to chatting with people outside the group, including a young couple sitting behind where Bahorel sprawls across a bank of chairs.

[decipheredhieroglyphics]

Combeferre returns Courfeyrac's hug with a smile. "Water bottles. You never know. But I am also happy to see you." Combeferre waggles one eyebrow at him, trying to pretend he's as lighthearted as Courfeyrac looks.

He's more than anxious to get going by now. After the mysterious and severely unsettling messages that came from Enjolras earlier, he had little faith his friends were really safe anymore. Added to his own (and growing) personal sense of foreboding, he was more than ready to find Enjolras and Grantaire and safely get them home.

Nudging Bahorel's foot aside, Combeferre sprawls out on the chair immediately next to the door they'll be boarding the plane through while Courfeyrac chats up half the other passengers. He glances at the board blinking their destination and sighs. Even when they reach Africa (after a very long flight across the Atlantic), they'll still have to undertake a second leg of the journey on some smaller plane or even overland, to get to the Niger River region where Enjolras and Grantaire and the rest of the party seemingly ended up. It was going to be a long day of travel. He was very, very glad his friends would be doing it with him.

Suddenly feeling restless in addition to the underlying anxiety and worry, he gets up and starts pacing around until they're finally called to board.

[revolution_is_a_riot]

It's been 4 hours. He thinks...

4 hours and.... 74 minuts. Yep. Only tht lonnng into the ride.

Itwasnt to bad at first. The chair wasss... not bd.Not grate . b ut not bad. Annd he hda no luggagage to crwd hjis feet. Foot. Feet.,

But thenitwas jsut sittni and waeting. Lots. He treed to getup, to wakl raound. Btu atfer 10, 34, no 53! .... 45? mintes, there was trneblen. too mchi bumppness. Airlady toll d him to sit. He agruud,. btu she inisissted. Fey an Ferrre agreed. With lady. not Bahorl. So, he sat an put on teh fucknig stupid belt.

He ordred some berr. Then mroe bere. He tried wahcting teh movie thye had. It wsa bad, bbut it got bettter with mrroe beeer.
Thne it was dnoe. He talkde. Alot. Fey and Ferrer did too, sswas actully knid of funnnn.

And now itsts 5 hours an some in to fliying. Toooo long. don like beeing here. beeers gone too. leggss arre tapping. ache. too long sitting inn crammmmmmmmmped spot. stupid seat.
No beltsign noww. He wants to get jup. Walkk a bit. Btu Ferre isn the way. Hwo mucch longger ws plane goingn tbe?

[courfeyraccat]

"Um, Bahorel..." Courfeyrac tugs on his friend's arm to get his attention. Bahorel's been jittery the whole trip, a fact that Courfeyrac had thought a drink or two might help settle down. It didn't. If anything, it made it worse, especially as it turned from a drink or two to many and Bahorel became less coherent but no less insistent that he didn't want to sit still and he didn't like plane rides. "If you want to get into the aisle, standing up first would probably be a good idea. Crawling over Combeferre is just going to make things awkward. I'm not sure you walking around right now is the best idea, though. At least, not on your own."

Courfeyrac looks over at Combeferre, sitting on Bahorel's other side. "Do you want to take him for a walk, or shall I?"

He likes the idea of moving around, actually. He's not usually one to feel claustrophobic, but there's a growing sense of unease as they slowly, slowly approach the continent that devoured their friends so easily. It's not a sensation he can pin down, and it's not there all the time, but it's there right now, and he doesn't like it.

[decipheredhieroglyphics]

"I have to make a visit to the loo anyway," Combeferre sighs and stands up. "Come on, Bahorel, keep me company."

Combeferre doesn't particularly like walking on the plane while it's actually in the air. Logically, he's aware that his movement within the plane isn't going to affect the plane's forward motion (or anything else), he just dislikes the odd feeling he gets with the plane's subtle movements beneath his feet that remind him only a few bare inches of metal separate him from sky.

Their seats are towards the back of the plane, which means the toilet cubicle is at least a decent walk away. The flight attendants are in the other aisle, so at least there's a clear path.

"After all that alcohol, Bahorel, I'm surprised you didn't suggest this walk first."

[revolution_is_a_riot]

"sTried." Bahorel prtests.s
"Btu you were ni theway." Reching forward he jabs Cobfeere with a figner..

Peeeong soiunds like good idea Hee realiszes his blatter his really full. H e treis to get nito the bahtoon, btu Ferer wont let mhim throgh the dor. He troes to go n aGAin. At Ferrre' s insitsence that he s tay out. he gets annnouyed. "I. Need. To. Peee!" He yells a t Cobmmerre, who fnially sems to get it an ltes him in. Whic was gud, becouse he was gonna peeee in the otuside othewifes.
Afetr hes done, , hen feels beter. He hsa too wiat for a fwe mninites thoguh becaise aparently Feer needd btahroom to. He wiats ncie an patient for Fere to pe, and smoe of the poeple near loko at him fuuny. He smlies at thm. Hes gto no prbloms now. Hes standng an mving an d blader is nto so fulll.

Afert Ferree is dne thy wakl a bit. An wen Ferrr dosn"t want to aniimore, fEy comes to wlak wjith him,
Tehn theysit. and talk smoemore. Wahct nothes movei. Itts funny, and eh lauhgs a liot. Myabe hell buy it when thy get home.
The ohters dont lte hmi drnki anymroe and the attenedents afgree. Its annoynig btu whit the fnnuy movie an his frends, its no so bad. He mabye sleps a bit.

Then,. sudenly, everyhitng is louud. Loude an d shakkying. Ther are screms. He wnts to actbut his disorentated. He loks to Ferrr and Fey''s rections to hlp him take stok of teh situaution,. Somthings vrry wrong. Neds to fgure it otu and act.

[courfeyraccat]

Courfeyrac keeps Bahorel from buying another drink and from starting a fistfight over not getting to buy another drink, earning a look of appreciation from the stewardess. Distracting Bahorel with a movie proves to be a valid strategy, and he smiles as his friend gives a running commentary in half-comprehensible sentences. Hopefully Bahorel will sober up by the time they actually land.

Thinking about their destination makes the vague sense of unease that's been dogging him return with a vengeance, and he straightens in his chair, frowning out the window. They're getting close, finally. There's actually land visible outside the window, small strips of hazy green in the distance. Another hour or two and hopefully they'll be at their destination.

Except... it feels like someone's watching him, though he knows that no one is. It feels like something's *waiting* for him, eagerly, waiting for them to just get a little closer, a little nearer, the disciples pulled down with their leader, power enough to do anything, to burn everything if needed or desired. There is a roaring in his ears, a flash of blood and scales in front of his eyes--

Courfeyrac pulls away from the window with a low cry, his hand immediately reaching back for Bahorel or Combeferre's touch. He's shaking, though he doesn't sense or see anything else, not even the vague unease from before. Was that just a nightmare of some sort, brought on by too much tension, too many strange things happening too close together? Turning to Combeferre, he tries to sort his thoughts into something that won't sound half-mad. "Combeferre, have you--"

He doesn't get to finish the sentence as a wave of turbulence slams into the plane, oxygen masks drop, and alarms start going off.

[decipheredhieroglyphics]

The sudden drop was, perhaps, one of the most terrifying feelings he had experienced in this current lifetime. He makes sure to get his own mask secured, as per safety protocol, before wrestling with Bahorel, who is still rather drunk it seems, to help him with his.

This is not good. Very not good. Combeferre feels an old, half-formed thought return to him as the plane lurches and drops toward the earth: that some force is drawing them -- Enjolras, Grantaire, and now them -- to Africa, but violently. How else to explain both planes crashing in the same region of western Africa, as soon as their plane comes within sight of the land? How else to explain the odd and unsettling feelings deep within his psyche, that they both belong here and shouldn't be within a million miles of here? He couldn't disapprove of Bahorel's method of dealing with his unease and restlessness: at least Bahorel didn't have to think about the problems as much while drunk.

Combeferre was suddenly very glad he wasn't alone, and he reaches blindly for both Bahorel and Courfeyrac, unwilling to let them go. He was also very, very glad his carryon bag was at his feet.