[GP] training day

[st_oryinsilence]

There was a trope that in prison there wasn't much to do except work out or read. As colorful as Madonna Inn might be, it was still a prison. And look, somebody had put together a library.

Put fifty some people, many of them military, adventurers, vigilantes, or superheroes of one stripe or another, in a prison with none of the urgent missions or near-death experiences they were used to, the fitness center was going to be a popular place. Maybe almost as popular as the bar.

... Probably not quite that popular.

There were free weights and weight machines, treadmills and ellipticals, yoga mats and exercise balls. A room set aside for classes, if someone decided to lead. A large square had been taped over an area of the floor off to one side as a make-shift sparring space. Sports equipment had been brought back from Bonesville for those who preferred more organized games. And those who had been stuck here longest remembered there hadn't always been a salmon ladder.

In other words, something for just about everybody. And you could usually find someone in there if you were looking for a spotter, workout buddy, sparring partner, friendly competition too.

Comments

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

"Yes," because he had in fact JUST spoken outloud.

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

The confusion seemed permanent on his face. He blinked. What?

"... Okay." He didn't want to admit he had no idea what was going on. "So, uh... I'm Alec?"

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

"River," she placed her foot on the floor but she didn't offer her hand. Nor did she attempt to make him less confused, she noted it but didn't try any explanation.

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

"I'm going to guess that's your name." And not just a designated name for a type of water flow.

And then he just had to try it. As he stared at River, he squinted a bit (as if squinting was necessary or helped someone project thought better) and thought can you hear me now?

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

Technically, it was both.

The look she gave him she he squinted at her clearly said: of course I can. But even then it wasn't the words so much as the question in his mind that she sensed.

"Not like a radio. Don't hear it. Feel it." All of it, it was like being a radio receiver that was turned on all the time. "Like static."

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

"Well that's just plain creepy - no offense." And he didn't really mean it offensively, but it did remind him of Psy-ops and what they did there. Mind stuff was freaky. "So... like, does that mean if someone feels like, turned on, you get turned on too?"

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

"If I could turn it off, I would." Offense wasn't taken though. Many people disliked the idea.

She ignored his question because it was an uncomfortable (occasionally) subject.

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

"That's fair." He ran into a few transgenics who hated their skillsets as well.

"I guess you'd be really good on a quiz show." She'd make a killing conning people as a psychic too.

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

She blinked, she would be good on a quiz show but not because of being a reader.

"Cheating would not be necessary. I am very smart." Though she might cheat, she wouldn't have a way to not cheat.

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

"How smart are you?" He wondered if it was something like him, where he had genes to make him smarter.

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

She considered that for a long moment, "There is no common parameters to judge from, any definition I gave would be meaningless without an agreed upon definition of levels of intelligence."

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

"Let's just go with you're smart." Anyone who would say something like that had intelligence.

"I'm Alec."

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

She didn't nod her agreement but her face clearly said she was fine with just assuming she was smart. His assessment though indicated that he was as well.

"River."

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

Well, if she ever fell for a guy who wrote poetry, at least he wouldn't have to work hard on making her name symbolic and stuff.

"You a fighter too, or just a dancer?" Because other than Peter, who was just so dorky, River seemed like the youngest at the gym.

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

"I..." she pulled a face and ducked her head as if shrinking away from a loud noise and her hands fluttered pushing away the images in her head, memories of hers or maybe not hers.

She didn't know.

"I'm not just a dancer," she said finally face concealed by a curtain of hair.

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

Alec could tell enough that that line of questioning was probably a no-go.

"I'm not just a cute face either." He offered a wink.

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

That more than anything else he could have said half shocked, half amused her out of the reverie or thinking about what she might be now instead of being a girl.

"Your face is aesthetically pleasing." She agreed finally, after an assessing look.

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

"Thank you." He was probably made that way, but he tried not to think too much on that aspect.

"Well, if you ever need anything, except maybe a dance partner, I don't dance." At least not anymore. "Let me know."

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

"Why do you no longer dance?" Because, nosy questions aren't really that nosy when you are in a persons head anyway right?

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

Not fair He shot back in his head, though it wasn't hostile in nature. He was going to have to be careful what he thought around this one.

"Because I learned to dance for the wrong reasons." People died.

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

Life wasn't fair, and obviously this was something he was as familiar with as she was.

"Was it the Academy?" She didn't think so, he wasn't from home, but she had to ask forcing herself not to shake.

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

He paused at that. He had never heard of the Academy, but that sounded pretty suspect. "Manticore. Probably pretty similar." At east from the way she had said it. it didn't sound like a nice place.

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

"Manticore," she said softly, then nodded.

"Mythical beast with the body of a lion, the face of a man, and the sting of a scorpion. Accurate."

Re: OTA

[st_x5_494]

He had... never really thought about that, but she was kind of right. Probably other people thought about that. Logan probably thought it was poetic.

"Neither of them are here though," Meaning Manticore or the Academy. "So," He shrugged. "Not a bad place, huh?"

Re: OTA

[st_makemeastone]

"It is not Serenity," but he was right, the Academy as far as she could tell hadn't followed and would likely never find her here. So that was a relief of a sort.

"But it is acceptable."