Atlas Gym; Tuesday [05/30].

[sword_chocobro]

The poster in the lobby had been updated with a new motivational image that Gladio could only highly approve of, so well done to whichever of the staff picked this latest one out.

There was, however, one small adjustment Gladio was going to make, so, after some time in the office to put it together, he had added a little something extra to the bottom:

"HUNGRY: GO TO THE GYM"

Which also included a red arrow at the bottom pointing helpfully toward the new Cup Noodle^TM claw machine game among the protein bar and energy drink vending machines. You know. In case anyone managed to somehow miss that it was a thing now.

Atlas is open!

Comments

[somethingwithturquoise]

Figuring she'd go in pretty hard on the colors in the next month or so, Summer figured this week was a good week to pull out something a little more monocrome but dramatic for her workout drip.

Which was, of course, the main reason she was here, to show it off, maybe snap a few selfies for her Insta, too, while she was at it, and then she'd get to warming up and getting ready for whatever Gladio was going to throw at her to make her wonder if all the parading around in cute outfits was worth it.

(Spoiler alert: it so totally was).

[mylandmyrules]

Nell was here at her usual early time. She still had work and preparation for baseball night to do today.

[sword_chocobro]

"Nell." Gladio greeted her with a nod and a pleased smile when she came in. "How's it going?"

[mylandmyrules]

"So far, so good," Nell said with a smile. "Ready for a good workout to get my day going!"

[sword_chocobro]

"Definitely a good way to start the day," Gladio said approvingly, surprising literally no one. "Anything particular in mind for what you want to focus on this time?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I think my core," Nell said. "My morning runs - and running up and down the stairs to my apartment and greenhouse - and the hives - have my legs in pretty good shape and I did arm work the other day, so..."

[sword_chocobro]

"...that leaves the core," Gladio concluded with a nod. "Good plan. Well. You let me know if you need help with anything, or if you want to mix it up at all and start swinging those sticks around, otherwise, I'll get out of hair and let you get to work."

[mylandmyrules]

"How about we plan on next week for the sticks?" Nell said. "If that works for you."

[hasaknightjob]

Coming in closer to lunch had worked out pretty well last time so this week Marc did it again. He spared a brief look at the exercise bikes for reasons of his own bemusement, then headed for the heavy bags.

[sword_chocobro]

And, of course, at what seemed like a good, opportune time between sets or whatever, Gladio was there with another gold star being offered out for him.

"Marc," he said with the customary nod. "How's it going?"

[sword_chocobro]

"That definitely works for me," Gladio assured her, although, really, around here, who could even predict such a thing? But he had confidence that nothing should mess with Tuesday morning gym time too much. "Looking forward to it."

[hasaknightjob]

Onto the water bottle it went, adding to the neat row started by the last one.

"All right," Marc said. "Wondering about adding a run around the island to the routine. You?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Me too," Nell said, "Though I'm not at all convinced that I'll be able to do anything besides accidentally whack myself with them."

[sword_chocobro]

"Always in support of a run around the island," Gladio said with a broad grin. "That's how most of my days start as it is, actually. All those stairs are brutal, but it's worth it. And I'm good...."

There was a little bit of a pause, as if considering if he should quantify that a little bit more.

"Really good, actually."

His conversation with Stark the other day hadn't even swung the pendulum as hard as he would have expected it to have, given the subject matter, so that was...definitely something.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio grinned a little as he tried to picture exactly how that would go. "Well," he said, "lucky for you, you are going to be working with a pretty big target. Maybe that'll help."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc cocked an eyebrow at the really. "Running up the stairs that fun?"

He knew that wasn't what Gladio meant.

[sword_chocobro]

A grin spread across Gladio's face.

"I fucking love running up stairs, man."

Which was actually very true! But he also knew that that wasn't what Marc meant, either.

"Not as much as I love running on sand," he added, with a sort of allowing tone. "But there's plenty of that around the island, too."

[hasaknightjob]

"Sand I'm used to," Marc said. "Different when it's on a beach but not bad for a run."

[sword_chocobro]

"Better sunrises, at any rate," said Gladio, but, you know, big fan of those these days, what with the whole ten years without one thing he had going on. "But hey, like I said, we're out almost every morning, if you start up and wanna keep pace with us for a little while, you're more than welcome."

He could also probably do the same with the various other mostly handwaved morning island joggers around here! Their numbers were not insignificant!

[hasaknightjob]

"Keep it in mind," Marc said. "So what's the good mood for?"

He so rarely had them it was hard for him to guess a reason when it came to other people.

[stykera]

Stark was beginning to wonder if he ought to ask his stylist if he needed some special gym outfits. His stylist, after all, always looked good when he saw her here (and when he saw her anywhere else).

For now he was just going to throw a respectful look her way before heading to the elliptical to start out as was becoming routine.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "Long as I don't trip over my own feet, I might be fine, though I'm pretty sure you can just dodge out of the way faster'n I an swing."

[sword_chocobro]

"You know it is possible to just be in a good mood sometimes, right?" Gladio checked.

Just like it was possible to enjoy something without necessarily being all giddy sunshine and happy squeals about it, too.

Granted, he did have reasons, and he had nothing against listing them off for Marc if he really wanted to know, but the details seemed beside the point for a guy who'd sooner be struck by lightning than crack a smile.

[hasaknightjob]

"Sounds fake," Marc replied. Was he joking? Possibly.

[sword_chocobro]

"Yeah, probably," Gladio agreed, never one to discount his own abilities, especially not some something as pointless as false modesty. "But out of all the words I could use to describe you, Nell, clumsy isn't even remotely on the list."

Anyone working out in pants like that without tripping all over them clearly had nothing to worry about.