Early Start (D1 EM Gym)

[John Slaktare]

It wasn't that he so much didn't like the exchange. He definitely did on a certain level. But he was increasingly uncomfortable with the direction of the exercise session. Working out, and helping others work out, was something he did to help think and clear his mind, and socialize a bit. But he knew the angle that Mei-Ling was aiming for. While he didn't disagree with it and would probably encourage her in a different setting, it was happening in his safe space. And so he is quiet as he continues doing pushups without taking a break, cranking them out, and letting an intense burn settle in to take his focus.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"...10."

Her third set complete Mei dropped to the ground like a rock.

"I'm not sure I can manage much more of this, my right leg feels like it's about to quit and fuck off to wherever my left leg went." She said between deep breathes. She reached for her water bottle on the bench behind her but not able to reach it without moving more she decided to just lay there a minute.

"I'm gonna have to remember to eat BEFORE I join you for a workout, I feel like a banana would go a long way right now, like I need some potassium right now. I've never felt like I needed potassium before."

[Hrafnhildur Ylfasdottir]

One more set. Hrafna was certain she had one more set of pushups in her. So as soon as John was done she lowered herself to floor to do that set. Her years of manual labor had prepared her for something like this, it was just that she wasn't used to such a targeted use of specific muscles before. When she lifted a heavy box it was with h her while body, as small as it might be. When she moved mech parts it was again with her while body. This was good though as it let her see what she was capable of and where she wanted to go.

The last pushup she could do was finished and she just laid there in the floor for a few seconds. "I'm with you Mei Mei. I think I'm gonna make sure I get somethin' in my stomach before the next go in here." With that Hrafna slowly moved herself and reached out for Mei's water bottle, handing it to the mech pilot with a nod and a smile. "Good job even without that banana."

[John Slaktare]

Butcher swings his arms to loosen them up a bit.

"Stretching now will help with soreness later. We can go through them together," he says moving to an open spot and sits down. "Butterfly stretch first."

"And yes, you should probably have something light. If you eat too much and the workout is too intense you could get sick. A little bit of something for breakfast will help though."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Thanks." Mei took the water bottle and drained it then assumed the position and followed John's direction.

"Maybe need to keep some protein powder in my room or something. What do you two usually do for breakfast? I'm a big fan of rice porridge and fruit but the porridge may be too heavy for this."

[Hrafnhildur Ylfasdottir]

"Time for stretchin' means time for liftin' is up. One butter-sky stretch comin' right up Big J." With h that she sat across from John and got into the same position.

"I'm one for oats in some manner just like back home. Eggs too, but we don't have any chickens or ducks around to get them fresh. What's a protein powder? Sounds like somethin' that could help. I miiiiight stick with somethin' small to start before a gym day if I make this a habit. Before chorin' I think. What do you think J Man? What's in your stomach before you start some time in this gym?"

[John Slaktare]

He does some simple stretching, leading them through while he talks. "Half a protein bar, and it's not good but I usually mix it up into water so it doesn't sit in my stomach. But id suggest probably some rehydrated fruit or cereal. It ain't fresh but powdered milk ain't that bad."

"If you wanted to make a whole regular thing of this, we could probably have a bite to eat beforehand."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I could see this becoming a thing." Mei says doing a deep stretch.

"You know, I though the stretching happens before the workout I didn't know you were supposed to do it afterwards...not that I ever do it beforehand."

[Hrafnhildur Ylfasdottir]

"Half a protein bar. Fruit and cereal. Loud and clear Big J. Sounds pretty good actually, not too far off then what I usually have in a morning. I don't stick around too long anyway, I'm up and out early. It's quite the habit after all of those years wakin' and shakin' at sunrise. Funny thing is sunrise is different than what I know on other planets, that was somethin' I wasn't prepared for. I like this early mornin' stuff so I'm in if you want to keep this up. I'm thinkin' we should, more for me than you both since I have a lot more muscle to put on this frame of mine. I'm plannin' on carryin' heavier and heavier wrenches from now on." If stretching time was supposed to be a quiet time Hrafna wouldn't have known. Truth be told it would have been hard for her to keep quiet for too long if it was indeed quiet time anyway.

[John Slaktare]

"Some stuff it's better to warm up or stretch before. But for this kind of stuff stretching at the start don't do anything. But afterwards it helps cool down and loosen muscles that've been tightened," he explains.

"And morning stuff is usually better for me. I got more energy. Your heart rate is lower. Your body is well rested. Best time to do stuff," John directs at Hrafnhildur.

"I'm excited to have enthusiastic partners. I think we can meet all your goals. I'm certainly gonna do my best for you both."

Talking doesn't seem to be something he avoids during stretching.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"So what's you favorite exercise John? I figure you've probably tired them all but which one do get the most satisfaction out of? For me it's the treadmill which is why until now my workout has mostly been just running with a few squats mixed in but nothing like this."

[Hrafnhildur Ylfasdottir]

"You're in luck, enthus...enth...en-chooz-see-hat-trick partner is my middle name. Well no...it's not. I do not have a middle name but if I did it coooould be that though. But probably not. But I'm still very...hmm....en-chooz-see-hat-trick. Morning it is." Having not done much in the way of stretching before Hrafa just followed what John and Mei were doing as closely as she could.

"I heard you should never skip leg day. Is your favorite a leg exercise Big J?"

[John Slaktare]

"My favorite is military press. I'm proud of these," he says patting his traps at his neck. "These muscles run from the neck and shoulders down the back, called traps for short."

"I am glad you are so enthusiastic. Most folks ain't so enthusiastic around me, but the few that are, I appreciate it. You been a real good friend for a while. It's real good to have you around. Makes me feel nice. Mei-Ling's like that with me too. I appreciate you Hrafnhildur, a lot."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei nodded her head in agreement to John's kind words but kept silent, not wanting to spoil the moment. She didn't know Hrafn well yet but she seemed the type you could be friends with for a very long time, a fun and kind soul.

[Hrafnhildur Ylfasdottir]

Hrafna's cheeks always gave her away. They would get rosey at the any compliment. It also didn't help that she would nervously look down at the same time as well. "Oh...I'm glad you do. Not much work to be kind to people, or at least that's the way I see it. That's how it should be. I also enjoy makin' people feel nice so I'm happy it's comin' together like that. It's been so good knowin' you. Big J here doesn't crack open that shell of his easily I've seen...um...so I appreciate those words more. Mei Mei here is a good egg too, bein' kind as I just keep on talkin' and talkin' and talkin'. Says a lot about her already. Appreciation all around I think."

[John Slaktare]

"And Ducky knows all about good eggs," he says, the words lighthearted even if he was as neutral as ever. "So it's probably not so hard to imagine it was easy to notice Mei-Ling was one."

John spreads his legs in a seated position and starts reaching for his left foot. Which he readily grabs hold of. "Stretch out those hamstrings next."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei shifted into the next stretch.

"You two are great and I hope we will be good friends from here on out. There are a lot of different personalities on a ship, not everyone is going to get a long all the time but Ducky you have an infectious energy about you, fun and focused, smart and sincere and I absolutely love it. John...you are something special. As I've told you I was a big fan of your arena days and meeting you in person has not disappointed at all."

[Hrafnhildur Ylfasdottir]

"Ham-stings? You're the boss." Lucky for Hrafna her foot wasn't that far away. "The goodest of eggs I say. Both of you actually, if it wasn't obvious. Hey now! So you think we can get videos of Big J in the arena? Now that would be somethin'. Imagine that, were just layin' there watchin' a mech donnybrook and who do we see but the J Man out there pilotin'. Would sure be somethin'."

[John Slaktare]

"Well, I ain't got any. Never kept recordings of my matches. Was always focused on other people's matches so I could figure out a good way to win against them when we fought," he says.

"Sometimes it worked out, other times it didn't."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Oh I have videos of Big J, I've been a fan of his for years; followed his whole career. So yeah, we can watch some of his matches, got a couple of Alek as well, fan of his two but John here is one of my heroes." She said unable to hide her admiration.