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Atlas Gym; Tuesday [10/03].

To get more into the spirit of October, the staff had definitely done their part in decorating the gym as best they could in orange and black wherever it wouldn't be detrimental to working out, but there had been a few other additional touches beyond the basic streamers and banners.

For example, all the kettleballs now painted like jack-o-lanterns. Skeleton dancer decals on the windows to the class studios and ornaments over by the weight area.

But Gladio's favorite were probably a toss up between this week's motivational poster over the reception desk, and the lighted sign on one of the walls.

Atlas is open!

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Summer had definitely been prepared for a whole month of spooky season themed workout ensembles, because, god dammit, if she didn't love a good theme these days, but she was going to keep it pretty simple to start out with, with just a cute tank and some shorts and god bless whoever did the thing with the kettleballs because she was definitely exploiting those for some Instagram pics now, ohemgee.

Nell had already run several miles today, but she was still feeling pretty energetic. She smiled as she passed Gladio. "Good morning. You know, we ought to get back to my sword work sometime. If you want."

Edited 2023-10-03 11:41 (UTC)

"Morning," Gladio greeted back, with a nod a smile, one that got slightly bigger at the suggestion. "You know, that did kind of fall through the cracks a little bit, didn't it? You wanna work on it a bit today?"

"I'd love to," Nell said. "Just probably need to warm up a little. I already ran, but I think I should stretch out some too."

Gladio's nod was an approving one. "Different muscles," he said, "different warm-ups. You want company? Probably would do me some good to stretch a little first, too."

"I'm good with company," Nell said. "Especially if it's you."

She smiled up at him. "Always if it's you."

So very true.

The answer already had Gladio grinning, but that addendum just kicked that grin up to nearly full wattage. "Looks like we're warming up together, then," he said, and immediately started to get working on loosing up his neck and his shoulders.

"Good morning so far, then?" he asked as he reached his arms over his head. "Funny how we always manage to miss each other on our runs, though."

Seriously, the lack of overlap compared to the amount of people who actually did handwavily embark in morning jogs around the island was kind of astonishing, actually.

She grinned at him. "I mostly run in the woods," she said. "All around all the paths. I only sometimes do all the stairs."

But yes, amazing that no one ever saw one another on those runs!

"Oh, see, now," said Gladio, grinning as his arms crossed in front of his, "for me, the stairs are essential, that's what gets the most complaints."

He threw down a wink her way.

"That's how you know it works. That, and a good beach run. Gotta love a good beach run."

Nell wrinkled her nose. "The sand gets caught up in my skirts and then it gets into everything," she said. "And the woods let me work on dodging. You run full out over and around and under everything the whole way."

Stark was there, as usual, though a little more contemplative than he had been of late. The weekend had provided a lot to think about, after all, as had yesterday's conversation.

"Morning, Gladio. Spooky season here too?"

"The sand offers resistence," Gladio said, with the excitement that most people reserved for something like a monetary windfall or an extra slice of cake with dessert. "Especially if it's good and soft and dry..
Gotta work a little harder, then."

He laughed, though, switching arms, because at least he knew how ridiculous he was, even if that meant nothing for actually changing it.

"That's not a bad idea,either, though," he added. "A run through the woods, natural obstacles. Prompto and Iggy could both benefit from that kind of thing."

"Hey, Stark," Gladio greeted back with a nod. "Spooky season here, too. Almost makes me a little worried for how this place is gonna look once that Christmas rolls around."

The more subdued, contemplative disposition was noted, too, as he lifted his chin to ask, "How've you been? Any guests over the weekend?"

Know what would be really scary? Burpees.

"Chiana came again," Stark said. "From Moya. We spent a lot of time with her. The whole weekend, really. It was..."

He frowned slightly then shook his head. "It was good to see her again."

And, as usual, Gladio couldn't help be a little curious about all of Stark's particular pauses and thoughtful frowns, but he was hardly one to pry too much.

"Good friend from home, then?" he asked. "S'too bad I didn't get a chance to meet her."

"She's a very good friend," Stark said.

A confusing and confounding one at times but a very good one.

"I think you'd like her." A beat. "I know she'd like you."

Too much, considering Nell.

"Well, I am pretty easy to like," said Gladio, who wouldn't know modesty if it came up and bit him on his well-toned ass.

"M'more likely to have to run away from someone in my woods than on the beach," Nell pointed out. "But it's good exercise and all. Maybe I'll run barefoot on the beach sometime."

"Gotta be careful with that, though," Gladio warned her. "Might step on some shells or some hapless crab or something if you're not." But a grin seemed to get the better of him. "Then I'd really be stuck carrying you around everything."

She laughed. "You'd prob'ly go strew shells and crabs in my path just to have an excuse!

"Like I need an excuse," Gladio said, oh-so-threateningly, especially with that wink he threw in there, and, really, it was a very thin line he was on the brink of crossing just then to not just sweep her right up where she stretched. "But it could be a good way to help keep you on your toes."

"I've always thought so," Stark said.

"So is she."

Generally speaking. "She and Summer get along very well."

"Well, that's good," Gladio noted approvingly. "Otherwise, I can bet that would get a little awkward, right?"

Uh, uh, uh, Gladio! Professionalism at work!

Nell grinned. "Mmmhmm... big words, Tall Man. But yes, I suppose it could make for an interesting obstacle course sort of work out."

"It was still awkward," Stark said with a lingering glance in the direction of Summer. "But only for a time. It's all fine now. Was your weekend all right?"

With the lack of awkward visitors and all?

Considering that glance, and Stark's general disposition when he came into the gym, Gladio definitely decided not to venture too much further down that particular line of discussion and was fine with just shrugging as the focus shifted on him.

"It was nice," he said. "No visitors, obviously, at this point I think anyone able to get through from Eos is not someone we'd want visiting here, anyway. But I got to spend some time with Nell, she didn't have anyone, either, and that's always nice."

"You two seem happy," Stark said quietly. "I'm glad for you."

The fact that Gladio wasn't just whisking Nell off and all but bench pressing her right now was a sign that he was a paragon of professionalism right now.

But for now, he just grinned back and shrugged. "Big guy, big words, kind of go hand-in-hand. But if we ever do manage to cross paths when we're out there in the morning, maybe we'll have to give the others' course a good run for our money."

Edited 2023-10-03 22:40 (UTC)

Sometime Nell and Gladio were going to have to spend some time together in the gym after hours.

"Maybe we will," Nell said with a grin. "I know for sure I can't outrun you on your course, but I doubt you can outrun me on mine."

"Thanks," said Gladio, with a warm, proud smile that just really seemed to confirm Stark's observation. "We are. Well. I am. I'm not about to speak for Nell, or anything, but I'm pretty confident she wouldn't take too much issue with that assessment. We're a good match, though. I'm really lucky, that things managed to sort of fall into place the way that they have."

"I don't know about that," Gladio snorted faintly. "You have to duck and dodge everything; I can just barrel straight through 'em."

Stark couldn't help but smile back at that.

"You deserve some happiness. I'm glad you've found it. And I hope she feels the same. It seems like she does."

All the glitter on the radio notes every Wednesday spoke to that.

"Well, she hasn't gotten sick of my shit yet," Gladio pointed out, "so that seems like a pretty good sign."

"I don't think you'd be easy to tire of, Gladio," Stark told him, shaking his head a little.

Some other people in this conversation had a lot more shit for a significant other to get sick of, let's be real here.

"But it is a good sign, yes."

Nell laughed and shook her head. "Oh, I don't think even you are big enough to barrel through some of these places."

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Atlas Gym; Tuesday [10/03].

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