Kiss Me Hello Notes and Miscellany

This story felt like it took longer than most of my stories, not in the least because of events in my own life, but because it wanted to be born in a way that I haven't had many stories demand to be born...that is, in a very verbose, sporadic fashion. I couldn't have finished it without some very instrumental and influential people, or without the resources listed below.

Thanks to:

• Rhiannon Shaw for once again letting me borrow her characters, providing snippets of dialogue to make sure I got Alex Daniels right, alpha/beta reading, and the reminders that yes, I shouldn't still be up so late….
• Misha for beta reading, countless suggestions, and general support. Live large, mi amiga.
• Cinel for the omega reading. Thanks for making this flow even more smoothly.
• Sharon for the copious Hawaii information (Flynn thanks you for helping him blend in). In Sharon's words: “Kamaaina haole — one who is regarded as a local, not an import. Trust me, there's a pretty big distinction. Kamaaina fight for the tab, always overpay, bring too much food & drink to potlucks, know where all the best 'grinds' (food) are, know better than to turn your back on the ocean, watch for the green flash at sunset, etc. Imports don't blend too well here – and show it, even after years of living here.”
• Ms. Lizzy for the information on historical clothing. Nina thanks you for reminding her why she loves present-day clothing so much.
• Dragon for the fight scene suggestions, weapons recommendations, and muse feeding. (Yes, you helped, even if you don't think it was a lot!)
• And lastly, thanks once again to the gang at Rhiannon's Eyrie for answering oddball questions, including how to close a hotel without prior notice. Note to self: under any circumstances, do not annoy these people.

Resources:

• The Grand Illusion, La France, and The Roman are the names of hotels I made up, rather than try to associate Greg and Nina with precise hotels. I'll freely admit they're based on actual hotels on the Strip in Las Vegas.
• As for Sharra, Connor's latest student – her story, tentatively titled Hit the Ground Running, is forthcoming from Rhiannon Shaw. No, I don't know when she'll have it finished, but you can check out the rest of the stories in the Aidan Logan universe at the Eyrie.
• The immortal Xan and Alex rescued Nina from is Axel Whittaker, from “Rite of Passage.” Why him and not someone else? Axel liked to prey on helpless female immortals and make them bait for other immortals.
• As to when the mad twins were in Londonium? Call it around 310 A.D. or so, when the Roman Empire held Britain.
• Albanian is the only living branch of Indo-European; it's spoken in Albania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. I'm not surprised that the twins know it. As for Nina knowing the language – Januz K., the magician who'd killed her, was Albanian. [May 4, 2002 Note: As with any piece of fiction, any resemblance to any people, living or dead, is purely accidental, and all characters not otherwise copyrighted to Panzer/Davis are figments of the author's imagination.]
• For more information on some of the Hawaiian myths, check out: http://planet-hawaii.com/gray/leach/hawaii_1.htm
• The shirt that Flynn wore is one I fell in love with some years ago. Murdoch wore this shirt in The A-Team episode “Cowboy George.” A.E. stands for “After Explosion.”
• In 1908 - Henry Ford developed the first Model T automobile, which sold for $850. It's conceivable to me that Nina would've learned how to drive not long afterwards; she and Amanda both love new technology.
• Flight from Honolulu to Las Vegas with change of planes in Los Angeles takes almost 14 hours of flight time (leaves HI at 7 a.m., arrives LAX 3:14 p.m. local, leaves LAX 4:42 p.m. local, arrives LAS 5:40 p.m. local) [basically all day]
• Phoenix, Arizona was founded in 1867. In 1874, a patent for the site of Phoenix was issued by Ulysses S. Grant and the city was officially incorporated on Feb. 15, 1881. http://www.desertusa.com/Cities/az/city_phoenixAZ.html#anchor826270
• A really interesting article on flapper girls: http://www.pandorasbox.com/jane.html
• The rules for bedroom golf can be found at: http://www.bl.net/forwards/bedgolf.html. I first saw them as a poster in a fraternity house; Greg strikes me as someone who'd find them quite humorous. Information about how to throw a throwing knife was taken from http://www.extremely-sharp.com/direct/throwknife.html. Any errors in interpretation are strictly mine.
• In case you're wondering about the title, it's from a song of the same name by Tommy Shaw. The lyrics are at: http://www.styxnet.com/styxlyrics/kmh.htm . I like the whole idea of kissing someone hello rather than goodbye. :-)
• By the way, about the goat story: All Rhi asked me for was to find out what a goat had to do with Xan and Alex, to which I said the truth was something they'd told Nina, and the next thing I know, this story was snowballing. What I've written is as much as Xan and Alex were willing to admit to…now it's tarsh's turn to get the rest of it. <snerk> :-)

Character Notes:

Greg Gargorlio: age 29, manager of entertainment at The Paris. Diamond-shaped face, small eyes, straight nose, thick eyebrows, mustache, broad shoulders, nice ass, second-generation Irish-Italian, brownish-black hair which he wears in slightly out-grown layers, good dresser. 5'8”

Xenokrates: Almost a bass; California accent, and baritone voice. 5' 10” or 11”, with a runner's build. Dark blond hair, sun-streaked white in places. Dark gold tan, deep brown eyes. Classically Greek features, profile could be stamped on coins. Uses a one-handed longsword that matches Alex's. Born approx. 137 A.D., first death around 164 A.D. Along with Alex, in and out of the military up through about 400 A.D. Aliases: Xan Morgan

Alexandrias: Alex is a baritone. 5' 9”, wrestler's build; curly black hair, black eyes, and olive skin. Very definitely the southern Greek coloring. California accent. Uses a one-handed longsword that matches Xan's. Born approx. 138 A.D. (1 year older than Xan), first death around 164 A.D. Alex usually ended up junior to mid-level officer (calmer); Xan senior level noncom. Aliases: Alex Daniels, Alexandrias son of Stamos

Flynn O'Doherty: Student of Aidan. Found: 420 CE in Galway, Ireland. A rogue, a scoundrel, huge comedian and practical joker, but deeply serious when he wants to be — and uncannily insightful when you don't want him to be. Acrobat and physicist currently living in Hawaii; teaches physics at the University of Hawaii – Honolulu (Manao campus); lives in Waimanalo. Taught Nina Williams, but she's more apt to claim Amanda as teacher; it's less hazardous to her health. An auburn-haired, freckled man, 5'5', compactly built, he's a complete trip. Gets along well with Okilani.

Nina Williams: Student of both Flynn O'Doherty and Amanda; trained with both simultaneously [Flynn for a total of six years, Amanda for three years (before Amanda went on the Titanic).]. Born 1868 in Tucson, Arizona, ran away from physically abusive father and joined the circus at fifteen; first death at age sixteen (1884) when the circus magician used her as his stand-in while practicing in a new death-defying trick. Gets carded if she has her hair short; usually wears it long as a result.Vibrant, vivacious personality, occasionally mistaken for shallow.

Nina is good with computers and electronics and is a competent thief; card shark (was one of the dealers at Amanda's saloon in San Francisco). Uses a Roman short sword, which she tends to carry in an oversized bag; also uses a boot knife. Skilled at throwing knives and slight of hand tricks. Favors revealing clothing (bustiers, thongs, leather & denim, boots) and sometimes looks like she shopped out of a Frederick's catalog. Golden brown eyes, faint freckles on her cheeks, freckles across her back and collarbone. Naturally golden skin. Has faint scars from being whipped; they run across her back and legs. Broad shoulders, slightly rounded body (call her a size 8, maybe 10). 5'5”. Pretty in a wholesome, girl-next-door kind of way. Waist-length, naturally wavy brunette hair, almond-shaped eyes, thin eyebrows, pert nose, full lips. Alias: Reina Sanchez

Mahila Zahir: Reed thin, long black hair, dark eyes, oval face, straight nose, just enough curves to be considered a woman, Pakistani.

Samuel Carrington: 60 years old, from Missouri. First death as a Marine in World War II. A soldier off and on since then, but mostly a headhunter. Long-legged, body-builder, black.

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