Gym, Tuesday, Before Lunch

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

After slipping out of her room, Dawn made a beeline for the gym. After her conversation with Sam, and her thoughts about Dean, Dawn didn't really feel like talking to anyone in one of the common rooms.

She felt much more like beating things up, but first she'd try to clear her mind by using the treadmill. Running was still her best, and most important, survival skill. Dawn set it for a five miles of rough terrain, put on her iPod, and started to run.


[ooc: Post and gym are open.]

Comments

[nadiathesaint]

After getting a lecture from Alfred for trying to use her sneaking skills in a sneaking class in order to help out a friend, Nadia was more than happy to beat the crap out of something as well.

She went to go actually beat something up. Running was never as satisfying as wailing on a piece of durable plastic with a big wooden stick.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn waved to Nadia as she climbed off the treadmill, sweaty, tired, and no clearer than she'd been before.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia flashed Dawn a strained smile as she continued to beat on the practice dummy.

If it weren't a practice dummy? They'd probably be wanting to call for help and take it to the clinic.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn thought about challenging Nadia, but after a few minutes of watching decided she didn't want to spend the rest of the day covered in ice packs.

"You okay?" She asked tentatively.

[nadiathesaint]

"I have to work at Cafe Fina. As punishment. For wanting to help out Phoebe." Nadia slammed her staff into the "head" of the practice dummy.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"That makes the kind of sense that's not," Dawn said, wincing as the staff made contact. "I'm sorry, though."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

He'd received an email telling him his computer workshop was cancelled for the day, so Conner decided to hit the gym instead. It had been a few days since he'd had a decent weapon workout, and he wasn't in the mood for sword work, so he picked out a staff instead and went to work.

The tricky part, as it had been with sword work and even unarmed technique, was trying to recreate the instinctual ability his Dino Gem had given him and turn it into conscious, learned skill. Conner closed his eyes and visualized one of his old battles, attempting to get himself back into the state of mind where all of this had come to him naturally. But the movements felt clumsy and awkward, and Conner knew he wasn't doing this right.

Time to start from the beginning. Keep it simple, McKnight: just one Tyrannodrone coming at you. What do you do?

His first instinct was to snap into his super-speed mode and elude it, then hit it from behind. But that wouldn't work. With a sigh, Conner forced his brain to work in reverse, go into super-slow-motion instead, and tried to make sense of what instinct had told him.

He probably looked really funny going through such a basic series of strikes and dodges so slowly.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn watched Conner from off to the side, but wasn't sure if she should interrupt.

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner gave up for the moment in frustration after he made a couple of moves that he was sure would have resulted in him out cold, bleeding, and probably being dragged off through a dimensional portal to Mesogog's lair.

"Hey, Dawn," he said with a slightly embarrassed grin. "Don't mind me. I'm just trying to relearn everything."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Why?" She said as she walked over to the wall, braced her hands against it, and began stretching out her hamstrings.

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"So I actually know what I'm doing, instead of just working off instinct," Conner explained, re-examining his grip on the staff. "Hard to know what to improve if I don't really know what I'm doing, right?"

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

She turned and flattened her arm against the wall, stretching out her shoulder. "How's it going for you?"

[nadiathesaint]

"Is that Tai Chi?"

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"It could be," Conner admitted. "I have no idea. No formal training here."

[nadiathesaint]

"Hmm. Is that why you're moving so slowly?"

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I'm trying to figure out what exactly it is I'm doing, so I understand it more than just instinct."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter decided to take a break from sword training today so he headed to the gym and, with a wave to all there, started punching the heavy bag.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn waved back to Peter.

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"Morning, Dawn," Peter said with a smile.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Hey, Peter. No swords today?"

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"Not today," Peter agreed. "I was reminded yesterday they don't go far here."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia shot Peter a quick smile, not taking a hand off her staff or pausing long enough in her killing workout to wave.

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter smiled back, watching Nadia's attempts to kill strikes on the dummy.

[nadiathesaint]

There's a possibility that there's something bothering Nadia.

Either that, or the dummy insulted her mother.

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter cocked his head for a second. "I'd ask if all's well, but what if I just skip to what's wrong?"