Dutch Velders (godutch) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-11-04 22:58:00 |
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Entry tags: | dutch velders, kanan jarrus |
Who: Dutch Velders and Kanan Jarrus (and NPC Bill and Mary Velders)
What: Picking up Dutch's parents at the airport
Where: LAX
When: October 23rd
Kanan liked the Velders very much. From what he saw, Dutch was very close to her parents, and they were very caring towards her. It had been very touching to see when they had visited London, especially considering the hell Dutch’s Dreams liked to put her through. It was even better that they finally had the chance to come visit. Kanan just hoped that Orange County behaved itself while they were here. No crazy shenanigans to distract them from the visit, thank you very much.
As cool as Dutch’s bread truck was, it wasn’t exactly the best vehicle to pick people up at the airport with, so Kanan had volunteered his own car to do the honors.
Dutch was buzzing with excitement in Kanan’s car, a smile on her face since she’d gotten into the vehicle. If he hadn’t earned the title of Most Valuable Friend by now with everything he’d done for her, this pushed him over the edge. He’d already met her parents back when her mother was still reeling from the news of her cancer, but Dutch was very excited about this visit.
“This is exciting.” She grinned at Kanan. “I know they’re going to have a blast here.”
“Of course they are,” Kanan grinned back at her. He maneuvered his car through the airport traffic as he made his way to the garage for the arrival’s terminal. “They’re going to have two of the best tour guides in town!” They had already made plans to take the Velders to Disneyland, which would also be a first visit for Dutch and Kanan. Yes, Kanan technically had been to Disney once already, but considering he was fighting a horde of stormtroopers and recovering from a severe beating at the time, he didn’t count it as an official visit. There were other plans, of course, other sights to see. Plenty of sights to see, sun to take in, beaches to walk along. It would be a great visit.
It took several minutes, but Kanan found them a fairly decent parking spot. He got out with Dutch to start towards the arrivals terminal to collect the two anticipated travelers. “Have you given any more thought to where else you want to take them?”
“Ooh, yes!” Dutch looked excited when he brought up her plans regarding her parents’ visit. “I’m taking them to the Santa Ana Zoo, the beach, some various little places about town where I hang out. I was sort of hoping they’d get a peek at my work.” She rubbed her hands together excitedly. “It’s going to be fantastic.”
She pulled out her phone as she felt it vibrate from a text, eyeing it closely. “Looks like their flight got in on time and they’ll be waiting for us at the A gate. Mum says there’s a Starbucks nearby.”
Dutch’s excitement was contagious, and Kanan couldn’t help but beam at Dutch as she told him all the places she planned to take her parents. Deep down, there was a small part of him that was a teensy bit jealous. He knew absolutely nothing about his own parents - who they were, where they were, or if they were even still alive. His memories only went back as far as his childhood with The Chaplain and his Wife. He had been with them as far back as he could remember. They had been the closest thing to parents Kanan had ever had. He really did wish they were still alive, that he could still talk to them, have them come and visit him and he could take them to Disneyland and the zoo.
But, again, Kanan liked Dutch’s parents a lot and he was glad he had the chance to show them around with Dutch. He put an arm around her, grinning. “We better not keep them waiting,” he said. “And I could totally go for a coffee.” He smirked.
The airport was a hub of activity. As the two of them walked inside, people hurried all around them dragging luggage behind them. Dutch’s smile didn’t show any sign of fading anytime soon. Lucky for them, A gate was pretty close to where they’d parked. It was only a short walk before her smiling parents came into view, a big suitcase and a carry-on by their side. Her mother waved to the two of them excitedly and her father nodded in acknowledgement with a smile on his face. Dutch ran up to the two of them, hugging her mother first, giving her a peck on her cheek, then hugging her father. She turned and waved excitedly for Kanan to join them.
“Kanan!” Bill Velders bellowed over the noise of the terminal with a warm smile on his face. “I hear you’re our transportation today. Awfully good of you.”
Kanan waved back to the Velders and watched Dutch run off to embrace her parents. He had to laugh a little to himself. She was like a little kid when she saw them. It was a heartwarming kind of scene.
Kanan returned the warm smile with one of his own. “It’s my pleasure, Mr. Velders,” he said, reaching out to shake the older man’s hand in greeting. He turned a smile to Mrs. Velders, “It’s good to see you both again. I hope your flight was uneventful. Wait until you hear all the things Dutch has planned for you while you’re here.”
“Ohhh, pumpkin.” Mary was considerably shorter than Dutch, so instead of kissing the top of her head like she did when she was a child she placed a kiss on her daughter’s shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll have a lovely time.” She then turned her attention to Kanan. “I hear we’ll be exploring Disneyland with you, Kanan. How do you fare as a tour guide?” There was a sparkle in the woman’s eye as she smiled at him.
Dutch picked up the carry-on bag as it didn’t have wheels. It must have been ancient and it certainly looked like it had seen better days, but it was packed to the brim. Her parents never packed light. Their excuse was always that they liked to be prepared for anything.
Kanan lifted the suitcase and herded the little family towards the exit to the garage. “I haven’t actually been to Disneyland, yet,” Kanan admitted a little sheepishly. “But don’t worry, between Dutch and I, we’ll make sure you get to see all the rides and shows you want to see. We make a pretty good team, eh, Dutch?” He winked at her playfully.
As she lugged the overstuffed carry-on bag, Dutch couldn’t help but chuckle a little at Kanan. He was right in ways that her parents would never know. She hadn’t told them about her Dreams for obvious reasons, so she couldn’t exactly share some of the adventures she’d had with Kanan. All Bill and Mary knew was that the two of them were thick as thieves.
“Pretty good is underselling it, I’d say.” She grinned at him, then looking to her parents. “How was customs?”
Mary gave a facial shrug at her daughter’s question. “Not all that bad. They had a couple questions for the two of us and we were on our way.” She looked to Kanan and back to Dutch. “How was it for you two when you came to see us?”
Kanan glanced at Dutch. He’d made a living out of avoiding uncomfortable and dangerous customs questions in order to smuggle certain contraband from one country to the next. It had actually been the first time he’d entered another country without said contraband and for the sole purpose of actually visiting someone. Still, he knew how to handle customs agents, put them at ease. “Not so bad,” he admitted. “A few standard questions for us too. Searched our carry on. Usual stuff.”
“We’re parked over here.” Dutch nodded to the row of cars Kanan had parked in. She looked back to her parents. “Are you hungry? How was the food on your flight?” Right then she felt like she was the mother hen, checking in on them, making sure they were properly fed.
“Good enough, but insubstantial. Chicken or pasta! No good beef option.” Bill scowled and Dutch grinned at her father’s complaint. She was used to hearing him complain about this sort of thing ever since her mum started cooking healthier dinners for the two of them.
“Oh, hush, Bill. It was delicious. You don’t expect airplane food to taste so good!” Mary squeezed her husband’s shoulder and his expression softened a little. “I’m sure we’ll be ready to eat again when you’re ready for dinner, though, pumpkin.” She glanced to Kanan. “Will you be joining us later, Kanan, or will you be needed elsewhere?”
At Bill Velder’s grossing over airline food, Kanan couldn’t help but to laugh. “You would think with the price of airline tickets these days, the least they could do is give you some kind of red meat option, right?” He had fallen into step on Dutch’s other side, letting her have her space with her parents. He was all smiles as she doted on them.
He glanced at Dutch again. “I would love to join you for dinner,” he told Mary. “If Dutch doesn’t mind having a fourth mouth to feed?” He winked at her.
“Exactly!” Bill gave a firm nod of agreement to Kanan’s statement about airline prices and the lack of a red meat option. He looked glad that at least someone in the group was thinking like he was.
Dutch chuckled at Kanan’s wink. “I’m sure there’ll be enough for four.” It would be fun, she thought, eating with the three of them. She couldn’t wait to get her parents back to her apartment. For as long as she could remember, she’d wanted to show her parents what she’d made of her life in the states. Plus, she wanted them to meet Olivia.
Kanan was certain the Velders would be very happy with the life their daughter had made for herself here in the States. She had done very well. Her Dreams had been difficult, trying and downright horrifying, and yet, through them, Dutch persevered. Just like she did in her Dreams. She was a strong woman and Kanan admired her. He hoped her parents knew that as well. He had a feeling that they did. After all, it wasn’t easy to come halfway across the world and build a life, Dreams notwithstanding.
Kanan switched the suitcase from one hand to the other. “Let’s get you both settled in and then we can talk about dinner?”
As they came to the car, Dutch lifted up the carry-on in preparation to put it into the trunk. She looked to her parents with a smile. “We’ll put your things in the boot so you’ll have room in the back.” The suitcase and the carry-on would probably fit there. Dutch just didn’t want her parents to have to cram themselves in for the ride to her apartment. Their comfort was at the forefront of her mind.
With her parents splitting off, talking amongst themselves about the pleasant California weather, Dutch looked at Kanan with a smile. “Thanks, again, for this.”
Kanan’s car was roomy enough for everyone, the trunk ideal for carting around luggage. At some point in the somewhat near future, he wanted to trade in the non-descript sedan for something a little flashier. He could see himself in a Mustang, he may have had a thing for muscle cars. Now that he didn’t really have to worry about having a car that wouldn’t be easily recognizable, he was free to get whatever he wanted.
The plain maroon sedan he’d bought from one of the car rental agencies he frequented after moving here was good enough for now. Plenty of room in the back for Bill and Mary so that they wouldn’t feel crowded. He dug out the key fob from his pocket and hit the button that would unlock the doors and open the trunk. “It was my pleasure,” he grinned at Dutch. “Your dad is a riot and your mother is a sweetheart.”
“Yeah,” Dutch returned the grin, giving a glance to her parents before looking back to Kanan. “I think they’re fans of you, too.” It was the truth, and it meant a lot to Dutch. On this trip she was determined to have her parents meet as many of her friends as possible. It was part of giving them a glimpse of her life. Kanan, though, was the most important of those friends.