Atlas Gym; Tuesday [01/31].

[sword_chocobro]

After the whole Square Master fiasco of last week, a surprise shipment of yoga mats caused quite the controversy among the staff, and a debate as to whether or not they fell into the same category, because, after all, weren't they just the same thing, but longer? They couldn't seem to reach a conclusion, though, so they deferred to the boss for his thoughts.

"Do I look like someone who knows that much about yoga?" he prefaced, but, knowing that wasn't going to fly, he sighed and offered, "Look, the yoga mat actually serves a purpose. Cushioning, and traction, so you're not slipping around all over the floor. There's a purpose to them. The Square Master was literally just a square."

The one staff member who remained a Square Master loyalist, however, was not convinced by this argument and decided to just pout about these arbitrary distinctions in workout aids, and so Gladio disappeared into the office for a few moments and re-emerged with a yoga mat split in half, and he handed one half over to the employee.

"There. It's a square now. Knock yourself out."

Of course, this only inspired a new debate amongst the staff, as to whether or not Gladio actually used one of his swords to cut the yoga mat or something else.

Atlas is open!

(And Gladio really needed to find something for his employees to do...)

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Marc was probably someone who needed yoga. But would he try it? Of course not. Healthy coping mechanisms had no place here.

Well - in Marc's life. In the gym they belonged just fine. Because gym.

Still, Marc preferred the kind of meditation that came from getting into a groove hitting a heavy bag. Do try to contain your shock.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio was one to claim that that was a healthy coping mechanism, too. Certainly one that would earn Marc another gold star when he eventually made his way around to offering one out with a nod when it seemed Marc was either heading toward a break or wrapping up.

"Marc."

[hasaknightjob]

"Hey," Marc replied. For him that was downright friendly. He was, after all, a morning person. "No weapons today?"

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio's shoulders lifted in a shrug. "Probably later," he said. "Lotta business to actually take care of. Surprisingly, there's more to running this place than just testing all the equipment, actually."

[hasaknightjob]

"Like scheduling when the place moves on to triangles?" Marc asked. After all, the only thing needed there was cutting squares on a diagonal.

[sword_chocobro]

"Shhh," said Gladio. "Don't give them any ideas. Even the yoga mats are sparking some controversy; before long, they're going to be moving onto spheres and having a whole civil war centered on medicine balls."

[hasaknightjob]

"Medicine balls at least do something," Marc pointed out. "It'd be an upgrade."

Unless they came up with some weird use for them. Couldn't rule that out, considering what started it all.

[sword_chocobro]

Oh, there would absolutely be weird uses for them.

Gladio really needed to give them more to do around here, but the locker rooms could only be cleaned out so many times a day!

"And the yoga balls?" he ventured, figuring it would be good to know where Marc might stand on this alleged future shapes war.

[hasaknightjob]

"Yoga has balls?" Marc replied.

[mylandmyrules]

"Morning," Nell sad cheerfully. Yes, she had on her skirty pants today for easier movement.

[hasaknightjob]

"Hey," Marc said. See? Again: morning person. "Steven said to say thanks."

[mylandmyrules]

"For the tea?" Nell said. "He's most welcome."

[hasaknightjob]

"No, something else," Marc said. He tried to think about it. "Cooking."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell waited patiently, doing some stretching, giving him time to think without making his feel rushed. "Cooking..."

[hasaknightjob]

"Something he and Watts used Sunday," Marc said. "You left it at our place. He said thanks."

He wasn't expecting that to be enough for Nell to know what it was. But hopefully it was enough of the gist for her to have an idea of why Steven appreciated it. Marc tended not to dig too deep into any Steven and Watts related memories for what were hopefully obvious reasons.

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh yes," Nell said, "I did leave a number of staple things there, maybe they needed on of them. In any case, they're most welcome."

And while Nell could not read the narrative, she would certainly have understood and approved of Marc's preferences. She also didn't need all the details.

[hasaknightjob]

That was enough for Marc to feel like he'd done his job by delivering Steven's message. If Steven wanted her to have more details he could chat with Nell himself.

"So how are you?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell would actually like to try yoga - if she knew it existed.

"Good morning, Gladio," she said when she came in - wearing her skirty pants instead of her usual long skirts. "How are you doing?"

[sword_chocobro]

"Hey, Nell." Gladio had a nod, a small smile, and a lift of his hand in greeting for her. "Not too bad; how 'bout yourself? Good to see you again."

[mylandmyrules]

"I'm doing well," she said. "And maybe you can show me how to use a few more of these machines while I'm here today."

[sword_chocobro]

"Oh, yeah, absolutely." Gladio would never not be pleased to see anyone actually interested in learning more about working out, and today it had the added bonus of not dealing with any further debates about yoga mats. "Any in particular catching your eye? Or, better yet, any areas you were hoping to focus on and I can point you in the right direction?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I want to get stronger," Nell said, "Particularly my... core, I think? But I want to stay flexible as well. I did a lot of fight practice when I was off world with Lana and the women warriors were amazing.They could move like poetry, but they were so tough."

[sword_chocobro]

"Yeah," Gladio grunted faintly, an amused sort of laugh, thinking back fondly on his conversation last week about Aranea. "I know the type. I could never really get the hang of that kind of finesse when I fight--like putting a bull in a tutu--but I gotta admire anyone who can pull it off."

And, again, he found himself almost wanting to recommend working with Ignis if that's where her interests lie, which meant he was going to have to start badgering Ignis about getting into the gym more than he already handwavily was.

"But the core's a great place to start," he added. "Good support, good base for everything else. They don't call it core for nothing. And if you want to start out simply, then an elliptical or a rowing machine's a pretty easy place to start."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell would probably do well working with Ignis should he be interested.

She nodded as she listened to Gladio. "Those sound good. Can you show me where they are and how to use them? I never really imagined myself being someone who learned all of these things - and to fight - but once I started I found I really enjoyed it."

Her smile turned a little sad. "I practiced everything I'd learned every day of the nine years that I was home. Secretly, of course.

[sword_chocobro]

Ignis was practically itching out of his skin for new sparring partners, but some greater forces beyond his control never seemed to have the energy to actually do something about it, unfortunately.

Gladio considered that turn in Nell's smile and her words thoughtfully for a moment, before that tilt of his head turned into a nudge in the direction of the ellipticals, with his hand and his body also following to guide her to follow him as he led her over to them.

"That sort of thing," he ventured, figuring that, if she'd brought it up, it wouldn't be too prying to ask, "frowned on where you're from?"