[Gymnasium - OPEN]

[flamenoir]

Who: Blackfire and YOU
Where: Gymnasium near the dorms
When: Afternoon
Rating: PG
Summary: A little exercising and socializing. Get fit and mingle.



Although she could have hit the Training Room for some exercise, today Blackfire had opted for her own. She'd watched a few exercise videos with little handweights that looked like a fun way to exercise. The only dilemma was in finding weights that were just right for her. Fortunately, some of the equipment in the gym was set up for people into power-lifting, even if the Training Room was more fitting for those with superhuman strength.

At last, she found a set of two hundred pound dumbbells that she could work with. They almost felt too light to her, but they were the heaviest set available without resorting to the use of the larger barbells.

And so, she began her exercises. Not long into her workout, someone else entered the gym just at the point that a song she liked came over the speakers.

"Hey, do me a favour and turn the volume up? I love this song!"

Comments

[flamenoir]

"Thanks," said Blackfire with a grin before she went back to her exercises. She lifted her weights in time with the fast beat, immersing herself in her routine. Just a light and fun workout, despite the two hundred pound dumbbells. When one could drop-kick a bus without much effort, two hundred pounds was nothing.

Then he spoke again, and she couldn't help but laugh a little at the question and at the way he was eying the treadmills.

"I suppose that depends on if you destroyed it by accident or on purpose," she said, after giving the question a moment of thought. "And on your acting skills."

[maximoff_boy]

"Somewhere between 'accident' and 'on purpose'. I've never met a treadmill I couldn't-- or didn't-- destroy. But then this school is supposed to be equipped for people like us," He was just going to go ahead and lump her in with his own 'super power having' group based on her looks and the way she was handling that amount of weight. "I assure, you, though, my acting skills are up to the task, regardless."

[flamenoir]

"Well, I know the training room is," Blackfire said. "No idea about the rest of the equipment. They do have some weights that seem to be at least for people who are either peak human or have low-level superhuman strength."

She was curious as to how he'd break the treadmill. Superhuman speed? Or maybe his legs were strong enough to destroy it? If she had to hazard a guess...

"Let me guess - superspeed?"

[maximoff_boy]

"Got it in one. The training room is so dull though. Not that this room is much better. At least the company's not bad." So far, at least.

[flamenoir]

"The training room's dull because you need a senior staff member to unlock the safety controls in order to make it interesting."

She cranked the difficulty rating up when she did train in there, but it was only really interesting and challenging with the safety controls completely off.

"You'd think they'd maybe give some of us a little credit, but when all the people who could verify my claims are on other planets...well. All a girl's got is her word."

[maximoff_boy]

"What is it-- key card? Code? Or Voice-finger print? Because if it's the first two, I see no reason why a senior staff member has to validate your word." Pietro had not yet tried hacking the training room. Provided it wasn't a physical lock out, he was confident in his skills to get in. As is, he was currently learning how to get around such things. Computers were dull as shit, but methodical.

"How'd you end up on this ball of dirt, if all your backup's out in space?"

[flamenoir]

"If it was the first two, I'd have already been there rather than having this lovely chat with you."

Admittedly, she wasn't entirely familiar with Earth's technology, but Blackfire was a fast learner in general. A lot of things came easily to her, and once one had learned to tinker with the technology of more than one planet...well. A girl picked up a few things.

"I love to travel, like learning about other cultures...and my home planet's got this pesky problem of the occasional invasion from people with superior technology who want to enslave my people because we're superior warriors and quite frankly much better looking, too."

[maximoff_boy]

"Well then thank god for overly paranoid security. I'd hate to have missed out on meeting you..." He trailed off, arching an eyebrow, as if to indicate he'd like to know her name.

[flamenoir]

"I'm Blackfire." With a bemused look, she added, "And technically, they're just the right level of paranoid in a school full of people who either have powers, have lots of combat training, or both."

She counted herself in the third category. Tamaran was a planet of warriors. Although friendship and camaraderie were prized, so was strength. In fact, their language didn't even have a word for 'nice'. The closest was a word that meant 'weak'.

[maximoff_boy]

Pietro waved her logic off with a hand. Details.

"Pietro Maximoff. And honestly, given the student body, they're probably not paranoid enough. But I prefer it that way."

[flamenoir]

"So do I. It's supposed to be a school for the gifted, not a prison."

She'd been there, done that, and was not in a hurry to repeat prison again. Even if she'd managed to break herself out.

"If we're being trained to save the world, the least they can do is trust us a little."

[maximoff_boy]

"Is that what we're supposed to be here for? Huh. And here I thought they were just trying to keep me from trying to overthrow human-centric governments, again." He laughed. "I suppose that's why they don't trust us. Annoying."

[flamenoir]

"Human-centric governments on planet Earth? So...basically all of them? Yeah, I can see why they'd have a problem with it, especially if you're starting to make a habit of trying to overthrow them," said Blackfire with a giggle. It was probably a little telling that she was amused rather than bothered in the least about that latter comment.

"Some of the people on my planet didn't like it when I took over the planet, and I have a legitimate claim on the throne."

[maximoff_boy]

That was partially why he said it; to gauge her reaction. He was not disappointed. "All of them for now," He corrected, before breezing on, "And if you were a good ruler, then legitimate claim or no, I don't know what their problem was."

[flamenoir]

Well, that was interesting. She wondered what the alternative to human-centric governments might be on a planet of billions of humans.

"Apparently, they didn't think that someone who served time in jail for stealing a Centauri Moon diamond had any business ruling Tamaran. Nevermind that they have some of the tightest security in that quadrant and that it takes skill and brains to do it."

She shrugged as if to say that she wasn't terribly concerned about the opinions of her people.

[maximoff_boy]

"Now that sounds like a fun story. And quite the prize, too." He leaned against the wall, now, oriented so he could face her as they chatted.

[flamenoir]

"The one I stole was almost the size of my fist, so definitely a pretty good prize." She grinned wryly. "What can I say? It matched my sister's eyes and I didn't want to show up empty-handed when I paid her a visit."

Of course, she'd also tried to frame Starfire for the crime, but she didn't need to disclose that information.

"As for how it happened...well. I'll tell you if you tell me one about trying to overthrow human-centric governments."

She hadn't missed the plural, or the again.

[maximoff_boy]

"How sweet," his tone sounded incredibly sarcastic, though he was more genuine than he cared to let on in this instance, "A gift for your sister. Is she here?"

Sidestepping her offer, for the moment, at least. He was more interested in learning more about her than sharing some of his less-than-heroic deeds.

[flamenoir]

"No," replied Blackfire. And thank X'hal for that. In her time here already she'd majorly downplayed how badly they got along, and hoped Starfire never would enroll here.

"I don't know if you've heard of the Teen Titans but she's on that super team. They're on the west coast in Jump city and usually deal with losers like Dr. Light."

Shaking her head, she decided to elaborate just a little. After all, he didn't seem ready to volunteer his story(ies?) just yet.

"Starfire and I...don't always get along. She's the goody two shoes, and I was always the black sheep of the family. She wasn't exactly pleased when the Centauri Police tracked me all the way to Earth and she found out that I stole the diamond I brought her. She's still my little sister regardless, but as you might imagine, sibling rivalry between two people from a warrior planet can get a little intense."

[maximoff_boy]

"I bet!" He said with a laugh. "You sound like you have a lot in common with me. We should hang out some time. See what trouble we can't get out of."

[flamenoir]

"We really should. Now I just have to ask...do you speak any languages other than English? You know, just in case eavesdroppers might decide to ruin our very noble goal of trying to challenge ourselves to be the best we can be?"

She was so very sarcastic about the 'noble' part. Far less so about the desire for a challenge.

"It's not a problem if I don't know it yet. All Tamaraneans can assimilate language through direct contact. It only takes a few seconds."

[maximoff_boy]

"Take your pick. French, German, Russian... Chinese. Celtic. Romanian." He shrugged. "My native's Polish. You're telling me you're going to get all of those just from a little tap?"

[flamenoir]

"Well, well. I'm impressed, Pietro."

She supposed he could speed read too, but that was still an impressive amount of study for learning things the old fashioned way. Albeit at an accelerated rate.

"And...prettymuch, yes. I will get all of them that quickly. I might need a repeat or two so that I don't botch the slang and language-specific expressions, but I can go from zero understanding to almost completely fluent in a few seconds."

[maximoff_boy]

"Mmm, that's my kind of speed. I like it." Though there was a twinge of annoyance. Because, yes, it WAS a lot of studying to learn all those languages. He had a ridiculous amount of time on his hands, but it all moved at a normal speed for him. At least when he was by himself, and not being dragged down by others. But in the end, he was used to it.

"You remind me of a girl I used to know. Could steal your memories, your abilities, whatever, just by touching skin to skin. Of course, she would knock you on your ass whenever she touched you; Took life force too, uncontrollably. Nothing like that would happen here, though, right? I'm sure you'd warn me if that were the case."

[flamenoir]

"No life force, memory or ability stealing here," Blackfire confirmed. "Just language and general semantic knowledge...things like understanding that when someone says they're going clubbing, they're referring to going out to a dance club, rather than planning on walking around with a club to hit people with."

Blackfire was grateful that her ability to assimilate language was stronger than Starfire's. Coupled with her interest in other cultures, it enabled her to fit in much better than anyone would have expected of an extra terrestrial. People didn't instantly realize she wasn't an Earthling because of it.

"Possibly some minor awkwardness if you're one of those people who gets uncomfortable when someone gets into your personal space bubble because I do have to get up close and personal."

She took a couple of steps closer and reached up toward his face but didn't put her hands on his cheeks yet.

"Shut your eyes for a few seconds."