fandomtownies | Atlas Gym, Monday (2/18)

It was quiet today -- quieter than usual in her building when she got up this morning, quieter than usual when she passed by the school on a quick jog before work, quieter than usual when she stopped in at the Perk for breakfast on her way to the gym. And after more or less threatening the poor barista at the Perk into explaining to her that it typically got like this every time it was a school break week, which she hadn't realized was a thing, Beau was . . . not in a great mood by the time she actually arrived at work.

Because of course everyone would take off without her, wouldn't they? That was always what happened, and so soon on the heels of starting to feel as if people might actually like her a little bit it particularly stung. Knowing some people could tag along as guests was a nice little extra sprinkle of salt in the wound, too, even if it wasn't even a little bit surprising that she was nobody's first choice for that sort of thing. That was always what happened too.

So if anybody was around and might actually need Beau for anything, she'd just be . . . over there by the heavy bag, throwing punches until well after her knuckles bled even through the hand wraps and not saying a goddamn word about any of this to anyone.

[OOC: As a disclaimer, this was the outcome I wanted, because I'm the worst and I've been wanting to do this to her. Gym is open, and Beau will be keeping all of that to herself, not taking it out on anyone.]

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There were a couple of people still in town, at least! Including one who was stopping by the gym today.

And... noticing the abuse that poor heavy bag was taking. Given his own tendencies to do much the same, Liam found himself wondering if there was something in particular that was bothering her. But of course he wasn't just going to outright ask that.

So instead he just went over to one of the other bags nearby, throwing a few warm-up punches as he gave Beau a nod and a "Hey," as he passed by.

Well, that was enough to make her ease up on the bag just a little bit, at least. Still, it took a lot less than Beau would have liked to admit to find the weak points in her emotional defenses, and even if she hadn't been as completely abandoned as she'd thought it still hurt. Damn it.

"'sup, Liam," she mumbled, jerking her chin up at him in a vague approximation of a nod between a couple of punches and then a solid roundhouse kick. To the bag, not to him.

"Not much," Liam said with a shrug of one shoulder ~~because shit didn't start getting real until that evening~~. "Just killing time before we head out tomorrow."

... Sorry for rubbing salt in that wound, Beau.

Though if it was any consolation, those plans would end up being cancelled?

But for eventful reasons! And if there was fighting, Beau was totally going to be jealous.

"You too, huh?" she asked in a disinterested tone. "It's like everybody's ass is on fire or something. Like is everybody fleeing? Am I gonna get eaten by some weird island shit if I stick around?"

Methinks the monk doth protest too much, here. Not that Liam would say as much.

"You just need to get in good with someone on staff at the school so they invite you along next time," he suggested. "I'm only going 'cause my girlfriend's teaching this semester." And as for the second part of her statement, he gave her a considering look. "Nothing like that's happened before, but if I say 'oh no you'll be fine', that's just asking for trouble, honestly."

"That's nice, man," drawled Beau, and she couldn't possibly have sounded less like she meant it. "Have a blast or whatever."

Were there perfectly valid reasons she was here and most of the other people she knew were in Iceland? Yes, but why let that get in the way of a good bout of pessimistic asshole sulking?

". . . yeah, dude, do me a favor and don't say that. I'll just sit here and expect the worst."

The next week or so was absolutely not going to be a blast at all. Which of course Liam didn't know just yet.

"... I mean, that's more or less me every day at work," Liam admitted, giving the bag a couple of quick hits in succession.

"What, having a blast or expecting the worst?" Beau hit her punching bag with a spinning back heel kick and made a face for a moment; she'd hit it at a slightly off angle. "Or both? Both seems like it makes sense."

"Mostly the second," Liam admitted. "For a value of 'the worst' that is things like 'the raccoons stole Fjord's beer again' or 'the Bee Lady thinks the wifi is killing her bees'," he rolled his eyes.

"Fjord has shitty taste in beer so I'm totally judging the raccoons right now," Beau declared. "So for 'the worst' you mean 'people are fucking annoying,' which, you know, that's fair. That's a good take. Being prepared for that all the time? 's a good idea."

She got another combination of blows in on the bag.

"The wifi --" which she still only had a vague idea of what it was -- "isn't actually doing that, right?"

"It is not," Liam confirmed. "I can't exactly ask them or anything, but I'm pretty sure the bees don't actually give a shit about the wifi."

Right. Beau made a mental note to avoid the Bee Lady, in the unlikely event that that ever became a situation.

She shot a sidelong glance at Liam. "You know, you're like, in here a lot. Just saying."

Pot, kettle,et cetera, Beauregard.

Another shrug, another punch.

"I like to keep in shape," he said. "And I like to keep busy. Been here almost two years, and I'm still not entirely used to how quiet it is." Which... he didn't exactly dislike, because he'd chosen to come here, chosen to stay here, after all, but still. He'd spent basically the first half of his life under the assumption that things like 'down time' and 'hobbies' were for other people.

"I mean, I get that," Beau said, and threw another series of punches and elbow strikes at her bag. "Like the quiet -- I'm used to that, but it's still . . . you know. Too quiet for me."

There had been way too much down time at the monastery. It kind of evened out between them!

Liam at least had a semi-regular outlet in the form of patrols of Verity's Baltimore.

"Except for about a week or so every few months when all hell breaks loose." Although even the last time it had only been like... a moderate amount of hell breaking loose.

"I have to ask if that's literal," Beau said, frowning. "I have to ask that a lot around here. It's kind of a pain."

"Kind of?" Liam shrugged. "We did have demons, one time. But that's the closest to literal hell, I think. At least since I've been here."

[ooc: hey, self, it helps if you hit 'post comment']

"You know what, I'm not even surprised?" Beau flung her arms up in an exaggerated shrug. "'cause I mean, sure. Why not."

Atlas Gym, Monday (2/18)

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