Gym, Sat morning

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel would have preferred to sleep in as a rule, but sometimes what he wanted and what he got were two entirely different things.

Not wanting to toss and turn, and feeling too restless to stay in the room, Angel got dressed in black sweats, a white wifebeater, a black hoodie, and made his way down to the gym.

Once there he took in all the equipment. He looked longingly towards a heavybag. His left hand, which sported a smaller bandage than it had all week but was still bandaged, clenched. What he wanted was to attack the bag until he was exhausted but, again, what he wanted and what he got were two entirely different things. Even he had to admit that that was more than his damaged hand could handle.

Something calmer then.

Angel stripped off the hoodie and dumped it over by the wall. Shoes and socks were next. He walked over to an empty space on the gym floor, closed his eyes, and centered himself. He tried - not successfully, but tried - to banish all of the thoughts that were weighing him down. That done, he began to practice his Tai Chi forms.

It had been a while since he'd done this. His movements began roughly. But the more he did it the smoother he became. After a while, he even began to remember what it felt like to be calm.

[ooc: open to interaction if anybody wants it, or the vamp can ignore you if you need the gym to yourself for whatever reason]

Comments

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"You've seen my armour. " Callisto answered. "Besides, if you need a fancy badge to show you're in charge, then you're not."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel's eyes did not drop to Callisto's chest to help picture where a badge could be pinned. "Um... yes. True. Badges, very bad. Horrible idea."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Bad. Really, and draw too much attention to you." Callisto was only flushed because of her workout, after all, Angel wasn't looking at her chest so it's not like there was any other reason for it.

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"It's like putting a big target right - " Angel started to gesture to a spot on his own chest, then aborted the attempt and rubbed the back of his neck. "Um. Yeah. Bad idea."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"So..." Callisto tried to recall what they were talking about. "You interested in sword-fighting at all?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Actually yes," Angel said. "Sword's one of my favorite weapons. You?"

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, to the point I sometimes feel naked without it."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel covered his face with his hand. He was not remembering Callisto on the couch. "That would be... bad. I'm sure."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, bad feeling, nakedness... " Callisto shook her head. "It's just Theodorus gave me a couple of new practice swords, and I thought you might like to help break them in. If you wanted to. Once the hand's better, that is."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Love to," Angel said. "Got 'em handy? Not that we can do much now but I wouldn't mind taking a look at your... um, swords."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I do, actually. Just a second." Callisto ducked over to the side of the gym and returned with a pair of wooden (http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7111/l7full1iw.jpg) swords (http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1189/cherry1au.jpg). "Here."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Oh," Angel took one of the swords gingerly. "Okay. Sharp... wooden... pointy thing."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"They're not that dangerous." Callisto paused. "Unless you're a vampire...sorry."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Well, you know, for practice you're not supposed to be stabbing me anyway, right?" Angel gamely tried to smile. He rubbed the spot over his heart. "Um... perhaps a protective pad of some kind."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Protection's always a good idea." Callisto agreed. "An accident would be unfortunate."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"It's always good to have safeguards in place so you can relax and enjoy the moment."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"That way you can just go with what feels right and not have to worry about unintended consquences."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"No regrets the next day..."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Always being up for another round..."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Being able to do it as many times as you like." He paused. "Maybe with an occasional rest in between to catch your - um - breath."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you wouldn't want to, uh, overexert yourself"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Could strain something. Leave you flat on your back, unable to do what you want to."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"You'd need help in a situation like that."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"A hand from someone skilled, who knew what they were doing."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Not something you want fumbled, could do more harm than good that way."