Atlas Gym; Tuesday [07/01].

[sword_chocobro]

When he came in that morning, Gladio found that everything was running as it should, the gremlins were behaving, the Cup Noodle^TM claw machine was well stocked, his emails and phone calls were call cleared and caught up....

...some people might have been suspicious about something like that,but Gladio knew how to take advantage of an unexpectedly peaceful boon when he saw one and seized the opportunity to finish that book he'd started that Sunday that he was really having trouble putting down in thr first place.

Atlas is open!

Comments

[stykera]

"Morning, Gladio."

Break week meant Stark could be there earlier than he had been in recent weeks. He gave the claw machine a quick glance to see if there was anything new and exciting happening there then turned back to the man with the book.

[sword_chocobro]

"Morning, Stark," Gladio greeted back, looking up from the book he held open easily in just one large hand and nodding. "How's it going today?"

[stykera]

"Going all right," Stark replied. "Thought I'd come in earlier today but I haven't decided what to do. Does coming here count as a hobby? I have to think of more, for the rest of the summer. Maybe running does? How are you? Good book?"

[sword_chocobro]

"I think," Gladio offered, very philosophically, "whether or not exercise is a hobby depends on who you ask. For some people?" He shrugged. "Sure. Probably. For other people?" The grin was a hint of which kind of person he was. "It's a way of life.

"And I'm doing pretty well," he added, "thanks. And it's not bad. Nearly finished." He tilted the book to show the smaller side of pages he'd yet to get through, and then showed him the cover with another grin. "Probably not for everyone, though."

[stykera]

"It could be a hobby before being a way of life?" Stark said. "Maybe. It might be something to talk about one week. I'll have to see. Do you have a class, this time?"

"And...I don't read much, usually. That's military history from here?"

[sword_chocobro]

"Well, you're more than welcome to bring the class on into the gym if you want one of those lessons," Gladio offered. "Plenty to work with there: all the equipment, we got classes here, too, even the pool, sparring space...

"But no class for me again," he admitted. "Kind of enjoying the break from it, if I'm entirely honest. And, yeah, military history, but with kind of through an economy lense. Not really my strong suit, economics, but it's still pretty interesting."

Yes, he realized he sounded like enough of a nerd right then that he kind of wanted to make fun of himself for it.

[stykera]

No judgement for nerding out from Stark.

"Maybe I ought to look at some of the classes here," he said. "More ways to keep busy."

Unless Gladio wanted to help wear him out so he was too tired to think? Not like that. Nell would kill him.

"Are you thinking of taking anything? Classes? Or just enjoying fewer things to do?"

[sword_chocobro]

Stark would make excellent fertilizer for her plants, no doubt.

"I might take a look, see if anything catches my eye," Gladio said with a shrug. "I did like Ghanima's adventure club class an awful lot. There's always something for nearly anyone, you know? But it might not be the worst idea to make a little more time to head home every once in a while now that I can." He snorted faintly. "As much as my sister seems to enjoy badgering about it..."

You'd think the President of the New Free World would have more pressing matters than blowing up her brother's phone, and yet....

[stykera]

Stark could be fertilizer and light all at once!

"When was the last time you went home?" Stark asked. "I...went at Christmas. To mine. Not yours." That would be weird. And going home brought up any number of feelings now.

"But if you'd like to talk about a hobby again, with me, I'd be glad to have you. Or to come here. Or..."

He wasn't great at friends but he could do better. "Maybe we could just...do something sometime?"

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio lifted his eyebrow a little as he let Stark work through that little ramble there, which helped to avoid mentioning that he'd really only been home a few times, most of those just to ensure that two-way travel was pretty consistent again after all.

Funny, that, considering how desperate he'd been to get back when he couldn't.

But when the ramble seemed to run out of uncertain steam, he grinned faintly and shrugged.

"Sure," he said. "Just as long as it's not fishing."

He was easy like that.

But not like that. Well, not anymore, anyway.

[stykera]

"I wouldn't have suggested fishing," Stark said, raising his own eyebrow a little. "It's not something I know much about. Anything about."