Working tired Muscles (Tash)

[David Blaze]

A fist connected with solid bone, a jarring sound not foriegn to the confines of Moral Crest. Though loud enough to draw attention, for most, This punch went unnoticed as just another beating happening inside the school. It had been a long time since the school riots, and though David had not been involved further in the politics of the school, he was not idle. Here, in an empty gym, he stood going toe to toe with a training partner, a boy who had politely approached him and asked him for a quick, friendly match. While David was usually the one to give out punishment, this damaging blow was actually from a connection with his cheekbone. Both men were sweaty, shirtless, and tired, exchanging blows at a rapid rate.

David ducked as the kid threw a left follow-up cross, grabbing the arm just above the elbow with his left hand and holding it there while he threw a hard right hook, stepping outward more with his right leg to give easier access, The kid cried out, his left hand coming back to his ribcage to rub the injured area. David brought his right hand back and let another punch fly, slamming a right cross clean into his opponents cheek. the kid fell, swept off his feet and fumbling about on the ground. The match was over. They had both worked hard, and David was impressed. He went down, placing a hand on the boys chest.

"Lay down and collect yourself- it was a good match, you deserve a rest."

The kid smiled, giving a thumbs up before placing the arm over his eyes, breathing heavily. David stood, walking over to the benches and picking up his Water, taking a long swig before dumping some of the icey goodness on his head, letting out an "ahh" as the water ran through his hair and down his body. He looked down at himself. He was finely shaped, large for his age yet also not, more toned than totally buff. He was proud of his body- proud because he had worked so hard for it, not because he was concieted. He took a towel, wiping off his face before looking around, hands on his hips, at the silent Gym. He looked over at a rope, laughing at he rollowed it clear to the rafters where it was tied.

It had been so long since he had climbed up one of those.

But now was not the time. He wasnt busy, but he was exhausted, and clambering up one of those was not exactly appealing at that moment in time. H set the towel back on the bench, took another drink of water then placed his hands on his head, breathing heavily a he watched his former training partner sit up, having regained his senses.

'I really am weaker. There was a time when i would have cut through him like a knife through butter.'

He shook his head and sat down, waiting for his body to recouperate.

[Tash]

Tash pushed open the doors to the gym as the two boys finished their sparring match. She recognized the winner, David: they'd met briefly before on campus. A small smile flickered across her face and she shook her head. These boys, always having to duke it out, even if it was just for shits and giggles.

"What is it with you men? Always so violent."

She quips as she sets her gym bag down on a nearby bench. The gym isn't some place Tash frequents, but she's no stranger to it either. It's a handy place to blow off some steam, let go of some energy. Every so often she needs that. Tash may not be your stereotypical fiery Italian dame but she's got her share of energy. Today she's wearing loose fitting black sweats, a form fitting black cami underneath a baggy grey sweater, and she has cutoff gloves on her hands over tape. Her wild hair has been wrangled back into a half bun - half ponytail.

Most of Tash's muscles don't come from workouts, so her figure is more toned than defined. There's no unnecessary fat on her, which is made obvious by the graceful definition of muscle in her back and shoulders as she strips off the sweater and stuffs it in her bag.

She didn't know David too well but figured she'd strike up a conversation anyway. After all, she was supposed to be trying to make friends here. Be friendly. And you were friendly by starting conversations, right?


"Having a good work out?" She asks him as she sits on one of the mats and begins a short series of stretches mixed in with yoga and Pilates. "What's the body count so far?"

[David Blaze]

David chuckled. He watched the girl enter, a little curprised to see her on this side of the gym. Most girls hung out on the other side, where they could do cheerleading or volleyball or something of that nature. Coming over to the place where punchingbags, weights, and men fighting were a regular showed that you had spirit, and David liked that. He wiped the towel across his forehead again before answering, having finally caught his breath.

"Actually, it was just a spar to the knockout. Nothing really big. His idea, not mine." He walked over to where she sat and sat down, getting into his own training positions of yoga and tai-chi. He watched her as he did so, trying not to think about the sexiness of a girl with flexibility.

"So, Tash. Interesting name. Short for Natasha i take it? Or tosha maybe?"

He was no expert on small talk, and though he had been in many situations such as these, it really didnt seem to get easier for him.

[Tash]

Child's pose was for channeling energy, for centering yourself. Answering questions didn't work all to well with that so she took her time responding, waiting till she was sitting up again.

"Mhm, Natasha. Right the first time. And what do I call you besides Mr. Muscles?" Comes the reply, with a flash of her pearly teeth. Her caustic wit isn't intended harshly: it's simply par for the course.
"You go to Moral Crest? I think I've seen you around."

[David Blaze]

He cocked an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly to the left.

Then, in a feat of showboating most would find corny or ridiculous, began flexing his peck muscles. He only did it for a couple seconds before cracking his neck.

"No, actually. David Blaze is my name. As for going to this school- i'm here, aren't i?"

He rolled his shoulders before he scooted back a little, glad to feel his energy returning. He smirked a bit.

"So, tash, you feeling up to a friendly spar?" He pointed with a thumb to the other boy. "Nothing like what me and him did. Just so lighthearted training." He shrugged. " If not, i understand... intimidation is a thing ive aquired and sometimes regret, but it can't be helped." He grinned in his mind- he hoped this would cause her to get a little defensive and possibly accept his open invitation.

[Tash]

Big muscles don't catch her attention. When your dad's an ex-Marine, built men wandering around the house are part of the status quo. Not that she was totally dismissive of all the work he'd done. If there was one thing that irked Tash, it was a person who didn't take care of themselves. It seemed like there was a growing cult of couch-potato-ism and more and more people were converting every day.

It wasn't that she expected all men to be musclebound beasts and all women to make steely Amazons of themselves, but for God's sake people. It doesn't kill keep yourself muffin top and beer belly free, does it?

So she could appreciate David's hard work. Clearly he was not a devotee of the couch-potato-cult.

At first, she brightens at his suggestion, then a frown flickers across her face as she remembers the bandages that were still wrapped around her ribcage beneath her shirt. This trip to the gym was intended to be more of a warm up than anything, to keep her limber while she recovered...She sighed. What a bummer. And she was even in the mood for a little friendly scrapping.


"Normally I'd take you up on that. Even though from the looks of it, you'd win no contest. It'd still be good practice. I don't know how much you heard about Mr. Orange's rampage to the school, but I was involved. And I got a broken rib and fractured knuckle out of it..." As she spoke, she held up her taped hand. A slight swelling was still visible. Further up the same arm, a long narrow scab from a slash wound puckered across her upper arm. Tash wrinkled her nose a little. "War wounds." She remarks ruefully. "This arm wouldn't be a problem, but I can't re-break the rib. Its only just starting to heal..."

[David Blaze]

David leaned in only slightly as he examined her wounds. He gave a "ouch" face before leaning, back, shrugging slightly. He mad eno comment to her stating that he would win- he didnt feel he needed to, not because he felt he would win, but because he thought the remark rediculous. Winning is not bred of physical ability alone. If every fight was won that way than many people, including himself, wouldnt stand a change against some of the stronger individuals. He thought back, again, on the Orange problem, about what happened and how he had failed to show and defend the place he had sworn to keep an eye on and to help protect. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. It wouldn't happen again. He would keep sharp tabs on everything irregular, and would make sure to get himself back into the limelight.

He brought his focus back on the girl in front of him, giving a small smile.

"Nah, don't worry about it. Healing is more important."

He let his body fall backwards as he splayed his arms out, his shoulders hitting the mat with a dull thud. He closed his eyes and took a few easy breaths before speaking again, his voice calm and relaxed.

"So- Tash. Whats your story? Like, why did you come here, where did you come from, etc." He knew nothing about this girl besides her name, so he figured he'd might as well get started on making himself a friend.

He could never have to many, especially with recent events in the school...

[Tash]

"Yeah," She gives a strangle little laugh. "nothing's quite so much of a bitch as a re-broken bone, huh?"

Her gaze tracks him as he lets himself flop backwards onto the map and follows him, folding her legs under her to sit Indian style on the mat nearby. His question brings on a pair of slightly raised brows. Tash shrugs.

"I'm first generation." She begins. It's not something she usually does: talking about herself and her personal life. But she's also no liar and it's as much in her nature to be as candid about the things she chooses to say as it is to be discreet about those things which she decides not to mention. "My dad was born in Haiti, moved here as a kid, became a citizen and a Marine. Mom's an Italian immigrant with family back in Italia. My twin brother and I go out there to visit family every summer. It's like my second home. And that's about all there is to me."

She says with a little smile as she looks over at him. "What about you?"

[David Blaze]

David chuckled.

"All there is?"

Well, that was an awfully short life story. He kept a small smile on his face as he sat back up, hearing her question and responding likewise.

"My father was the Sole owner and Founder of Blaze Weapons manufacturing. My mother was a secretary, helped in his office. I myself have inherited thier legacy and business, since they died when i was young." He tilted his head down a little, saying in a slightly softer voice. "And thats about all there is to me." David didnt talk about himself at all, so what little information he did give he kept in tune with what information she gave. What she revealed was extremely vague, but it worked out in his favor since he didnt wish to reveal too much about himself to her or anyone else. He couldnt help the flood of memories that hit him when he talked about it though. Of watching everything from under a table. Of the screams, and the promises. He remembered the tear shaped scar on the hand, the closed left eye with a scar over it as well-

He shook his head a moment, clearing it. He didnt want to space off in front of his new found friend now did he? He looked back up to her face, banishing the ghosts with an smoothe smile.

"So, your Italian, huh? Can you speak the language?"

[Tash]

There was definitely more to that story, she thought, watching his face as he spoke. She was normally quite intuitive and this situation was no exception. In this case, it was not the emotions that did play across his face that alerted her, so much as what did not. What she noticed, instead, was the effort to steady his expression: if there were not things left unsaid, there would be no effort to quiet any inner turmoil. But she decided not to press. It wouldn't be tactful and there was no reason.

He brought her out of her quiet analysis with his question, which brought a quick grin to her face. As little as she normally spoke about her personal life, she was proud of being able to speak her madre lingua and wasn't about to hide that fact.


"Scommettevate che posso parlare Italiano!" Comes the good natured response. "Learned it at the same time as English. Speak it every summer and with my mom at home."

[David Blaze]

He smiled. He loved other languages, and throughout middle school and high school had learned a large array of them, this obviously being one.

"Anche io."

He didnt have the natural accent, but he was adept at it and his words were fluent and casual, though his sentence was short. He decided to try and give a small display at least, to let her know he wasn't a total failure at the language.

"Siete molto buona. Vorrei a essere che una buona uno di questi giorno."

Maybe he messed up, he wasn't sure, but the final word was a little sluggish to him- he didn't quite know how to pronounce it. Regardless, he shrugged, looking around himself at the empty gym and deciding that he was board. He looked over at her with a small smile on his face. "There is a fair going on in town. Would you like to accompany me to it?" He didn't continue with the Italian only because he didnt want to offend her or something. He wasn't born there, and continuing to converse with her without her expressing she would like to might be offensive. Hell, he didn't know. Maybe he was just nervous. He always got nervous around girls, regardless of the situation.

Terrible habit of his. One he really needed to break.

[Tash]

She laughed: it was a lilting sound, not critical in the least. He's a little awkward which is something fairly original for muscle bound types. Usually they ooze of more self confidence than she can stomach and more testosterone than she can stand. David's a refreshing friend to find. She hops up nimbly enough from the mat, a muscle at the corner of her mouth twitching lightly at the minimal jarring impact the motion had upon her ribs. Damn Tash, you need to be more careful with that shit! She reprimanded herself mentally.

"Sounds awesome. Awesome possum. I read a poster for it somewhere but I don't remember exactly where at, so you lead the way. You got a car or are we taking mine? Or hoofing it. I'm cool with whatever."

ooc: sorry it's taken me so long! finals and preparations for my trip to and classes in europe have kept me uber busy.

[David Blaze]

David chuckled a little.

"Cool. Let me grab my shirt."

He stood, picking up his water bottle and swiging once more before heading to his clothing. He pulled his shirt on easily over his head, tilting his eyes back to speak when she asked what car they were taking.

"Well, mines on the other side of the school, so if yours is closer that would probably be easier. If not, we can take mine."

David had brought his nova today, happily taking it out for the first time since 259 and the earthquake there. He loved that car, the nine hundred horses seemed to course through his veins as quickly as the adrenaline that flooded him. He tried to think for a moment of what kind of car this girl would drive. Probably an import, especially if she was over seas.

He may just have to wait and see, yes?

[Tash]

She laughed and nodded. "Any excuse to drive my Bambino." She remarked and fished a set of keys out of her massive bag. She'd parked pretty close, getting a lucky spot a row in and cutting off a Chevy HHR to do it. The driver had been pissed but the look she'd been shot by Tash encouraged sweet sweet silence.

They approached the ebony monster of a '67 Mustang Fastback. Tash's face glows with pride. As much as she loved European cars, she had a special place in her heart for her personal piece of classic American muscle.


"David, meet Bambino. Bambino; David."

So she introduced her car to people. Call her crazy for it and she'd probably laugh and not bother to deny it. She wouldn't lie, she was attached to her ride.

[David Blaze]

David followed her out the back, and his gaze immediately paused on the chunk of grade A American Muscle parked before him. A low whistle came from his lips as his lightly ran his hand along the rear, careful not to press too hard so none of palm sweat or oil would smudge it. He gave a little grin, then placed a hand behind his head.

"I gotta be a little honest, i pitted you for a sports car lover."

He couldn't help it- something about chicks driving muscle made his heart rate pick up. It wasn't like he had a thing for her, but it was, admittadly, extremely attractive to him. He would love to race it sometime. His hand found the handle on the door, and he hopped it, letting out a little sigh at the feel of her seats. He took a slow, deep breath, the smell assaulting his nostrils with the feeling of power and speed. He looked over to Tash.

"I gotta admit- this is definitely hot."

He closed the door and waited, assuming she knew where the carnival was since she admitted to having read a flier earlier.