[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]

"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."

[maximoff_boy]

"Alright. But a few seconds can be an agonizingly long time for me, just as a heads up." He did as she asked, curious as to where this was going, and enjoying the back-and-forth, regardless.

[flamenoir]

Blackfire placed her hands on his cheeks and then leaned in to bring her lips up against his. Although she wasn't being the least bit rough, she'd taken a gentle hold of his face to prevent him from jerking away if he was startled. Some Earthlings could get so jumpy over this sort of thing, even if he didn't strike her as the type. Finally after a few seconds she pulled away and released him.

When she spoke, she addressed him in Polish. "I trust that wasn't too agonizing?"

[maximoff_boy]

He definitely didn't pull away; he was more or less expecting this, given her general demeanor and what she'd said. When she put her hands on his face, he covered her's with his own. He lets her do her thing, not reacting much more than that, to let her do her thing, enjoying the experience regardless.

"Hmm. I don't know. Maybe we should try again, just to make sure. The scientific approach, you know?" He responded in kind.

[flamenoir]

"Oh, of course," said Blackfire, switching to German with a little chuckle. "For science. Or at least for the learning process."

Well, look at that. He didn't seem to be the least bit surprised. Clever boy.

"Like I said, it can take two or three tries to make sure I have all the language-specific expressions and slang."

Without further adieu, she leaned in for another kiss.

[maximoff_boy]

Oh, he liked her. She was interesting-- or at LEAST not boring. And that sort of currency was few and far between in his world. His brain had to double back to track the language switch, and he enjoyed being made to think.

He went ahead and met her half way for the kiss this time, but was otherwise still not terribly aggressive, or as aggressive as he might have been, had he not been genuinely enjoying her company.

"I more meant that I didn't find the first experience agonizing," He said as their lips parted again, this time in French, before switching over to Russian, "Didn't find this agonizing either. But "two" is hardly a scientifically diverse sampling pool."

[flamenoir]

"Technically, if we want to make this really scientific...," said Blackfire, speaking in Romanian this time, then switching over to Celtic, "...we'd have to form a hypothesis."

At this point, it wasn't just about learning the languages. That may have been her initial purpose, yes, but now she was just flirting and entertaining herself. He didn't seem to mind in the slightest. That earned him several points in his favour.

She changed yet again to Chinese. "So I *hypothesize* that you'll continue to not find the experience agonizing over repeated trials. So...how many trials would you say would qualify as a diverse enough sampling pool?"

[maximoff_boy]

"Hmmm... tricky." Italian now! "A good hypothesis allows for many-- many trials, but I also confess. I may grow bored at some point." He switched back to English. "And if I'm bored long enough, it becomes agonizing. Nothing personal, I assure you."

He may have slipped an arm around her waist at some point. Sly asshole.

[flamenoir]

"None taken. If you get bored, I'll just have to make things interesting again," said Blackfire with a grin.

She had no doubt that she could keep things interesting. She hooked her arm around his shoulder shortly after he put an arm around her waist. Challenge accepted, Pietro Maximoff.

Glancing around the room, she remarked, "Although maybe we should continue our research somewhere other than the gym? You know, for science and a change of scenery might keep you from getting bored. I vote for the roof."