Atlas Gym; Tuesday [02/07].

[sword_chocobro]

There wasn't a whole lot to do that day at the gym, so Gladio figured he might as well spend some time between the weight room and the punching bags, working up a good appetite for Ignis' birthday dinner later that day, and, as he was working, he realized that he'd really dropped the ball on maybe getting some new daggers for him as well. Maybe it wouldn't be too late by the time he finished up here to swing by the blacksmith's to see what she had, or maybe put in an order, though he could already hear Ignis giving him crap for being late even in birthday presents.

Just something to think about, while he worked the weights and the bags and tried to keep at least one sliver of attention toward the gym as a whole, in case he was needed for anything or there were any issues anywhere.

Atlas Gym is open!

Comments

[mylandmyrules]

Nell made her way in early and after some warm-up work on the elliptical machine she made her way over to the matted area to work on her form, which was her own mix of the Tai Chi she'd learned and parts of the form the warrior women did on Lana's planet. She was actually quite good at it - better than she imagined.

[sword_chocobro]

Nell seemed pretty focused on her workout goals that morning (you loved to see it!), so Gladio wasn't about to disturb her at all, but he would offer a nod of acknowledgement and a little quirk of his hand in a wave if she happened to notice him (he was so hard to miss and all, too!) in between all his own stuff.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell finished her form with a flourish and caught sight of Gladio as she turned. She blushed a little and used the excuse of wiping the sweat from her forehead to give her a moment to collect herself. She could exercise and show her limbs here as much as she wanted and no stupid churchman was going to show up and shame her for it.

"Morning, Gladio," she said, perhaps a touch more defiantly than she'd planned, before catching herself and ducking her head a little. "Um... how are you today?"

[sword_chocobro]

And if any stupid churchman did, they'd definitely have Gladio to answer to, which would not be a good time for anyone involved.

(Well, okay, Gladio might enjoy it, just a little bit).

"Pretty good, Nell," he answered, with a faint smile and another nod. "Thanks. How 'bout yourself?"

[mylandmyrules]

He might have to fight Marc and Lana for that honor. And they would definitely enjoy it!

"I'm good," she said. "Happy to be here. And I feel like my form was really flowing well today."

She hesitated, it still took a bit for her to speak up and ask for things. "Would you have time to show me that rowing machine today?"

[sword_chocobro]

Well, if it was his gym they were coming in and doing that in, it was pretty much Gladio's job to have a little skin in that game. If anything just to set a precedent.

"You did seem to have a really good grasp on things out there," he agreed with a nod, before his grin broke out a little bigger. "And it's funny you should ask, I was actually wondering if you were still interested in picking that one up, too."

[mylandmyrules]

There was sure to be enough action for everybody should that happen. Nell wasn't about to stand idly by herself.

She beamed at him "Not just me then," she said happily. "Good to know. And yes, the eliptical is well enough, but the idea of rowing on dry land fascinates me."

[sword_chocobro]

"Just don't expect to get very far," Gladio threw out with a laugh, because he felt he kind of had to. He quirked a chin toward the mats where she'd just been working. "You need a breather after your forms? Or should we head over there now and I'll get you set up?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "I promise not to be disappointed by the lack of distance achieved," she said, then shook her head. "I'm fine. I'll just have some water while we walk over."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc hit the gym in the morning, as was his preference. But, just as he was about to pick up some weights, he noticed a call came in on his phone. More specifically, a call from someone saved in Marc's contacts as DON'T ANSWER.

Which, in Marc's defense, he did not. He did, however, wait to see the transcription of the voice mail that was left. And, having read said voice mail, Marc shoved his phone back into his pocket and abandoned the weights he'd been about to use in favor of beelining for the heavy bags and hitting them like that was his answer.

He was probably going to be here a while.

[sword_chocobro]

And Gladio, with his own lighter work with the bags, was not about to interrupt a person when they were clearly in a zone. But he'd also be remiss if he skipped out on giving Marc his weekly sticker, especially when he was clearly earning it that morning.

So there he was, offering one out on the tip of his finger, when it seemed like Marc had finally worked himself out to a stopping point for a breather, along with a nod.

"Marc."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc did pause for a breather. Or at least to take a few swallows out of his water bottle, then grimacing like he forgot there was only water in there.

"Gladio," Marc replied. He took the sticker and placed it on the bottle with the others. There were enough now it was starting to look like a purposeful collection.

[sword_chocobro]

One day, maybe, the bottle would be so covered in stickers that they'd have to start being layered, even. A lofty goal, perhaps, but surely one worth striving for.

(Although perhaps one that Gladio would rather not see reached, if only because that meant he'd be stuck here long enough to actually see it to fruition).

"How's it going?" he asked, in a way that maybe seemed to be wondering if he should acknowledge how Marc seemed to be going for broke particularly hard that morning, or if he should just leave all that to the punching bags to handle.

[hasaknightjob]

"Phones were a mistake," Marc said. True for wacky messages day, true for life.

[sword_chocobro]

"I wasn't gonna ask," Gladio noted with a snort, "but since you brought it up...something tells me that hadn't been just a reminder to really get out there and get at it today."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc grimaced. "Someone who needs to lose my number."

Yes, Marc knew how to block a caller and he hadn't done that for this one yet. Nobody said Marc took the uncomplicated solutions for his problems.

[sword_chocobro]

"Well," Gladio offered, tilting his head a little speculatively, "good thing about phones is you don't have to answer them, either."

A moment later, he offered, "Could also just change your number, too. Do the losing for 'em."

[hasaknightjob]

"Pain in the ass for everyone else who has it," Marc said, but that was more him sharing his thought process than it was him saying flat out it wasn't a potential solution. Particularly as he added, "Course these days with some people it doesn't matter."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell noticed the call and Marc's response and while part of her was dying to ask - less out of curiosity and more out of a desire to help an obviously upset friend - she knew Marc well enough to not do that. Instead she waited for a break in the hitting and offered him a towel without comment.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc took the towel with a nod because saying thank you was for other people. He wiped his face with it, then said, "Morning."

[mylandmyrules]

"It is at that," Nell said. "Think you could help me with some of the weight machines when you have a minute? I'm trying to branch out."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc was glad for the distraction. "Sure. You need a spotter?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Um... yes?" Nell said. She wasn't exactly sure what all as required, but she was sure Marc could help her out in an efficient handwavey way.

[hasaknightjob]

"Someone to make sure you don't drop the weights on yourself," Marc said. By tone it was clear this was a normal thing and not something he was saying because Nell was new.

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh, then yes, definitely," Nell said. "I'd prefer not to drop them on myself or some hapless passerby."