Beats per minute.

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

[The training room is occupied tonight, the mechanical sound of sneakers thumping against the belt of the treadmill and ragged, thick breath filling the space. There's a sweaty shirtless Rikka with headphones who managed to sneak out under the guise that he's hanging out elsewhere in the Dressing Room, has taken an Elixir or two for the energy boost, and is attempting to get his heart rate up after several reps of weight-lifting. He needs to get stronger faster, though he's quickly reaching his limit whether he knows it or not. It's fairly obvious that he doesn't, because he's peaked from that adrenaline high and is now just pushing himself to see how far he can go, adjusting the incline pattern and speed to the second highest setting. He totally needs some water and one of Dad's grilled burgers.]

Comments

[seasides]

[he's no Uncle Kai (yet), but that doesn't mean he's blind when he comes across this little scene. instead of entering right away, he trots off to get a bottle of water or two and something filling for Riku to snack on that contains no strawberry (or any red fruit at all, to be safe). no grilled burgers from him, sadly.]

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*is he a Riku? no, he's much cuter, even when he's panting really, really hard*

s-shhh I meant to type Rikka /still has to catch herself with that, failed that time

[seasides]

[yes, yes, he's cuter than a Riku, my mun's bad. ;; but anyway, he's coming into the room, setting the water and food down nearby and wondering what to say. he doesn't really want to startle Rikka so he's letting out a little more Light than normal.]

:P

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he can feel that and turns to look at Kai, a bit startled -- and lol he takes a stumble on that treadmill, eating rubber and flailing*

[seasides]

[ouch, that makes him cringe and hurry over to help him.]

Sorry!

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he's pushing himself up, catching his breath and rubbing at the little burns on his side where he hit and pushing his orange headphones around his neck so that he can hear*

's fine.

[seasides]

[...he's casting a tiny Cure anyway because he feels bad.]

I didn't want to interrupt. Or startle you, sorry.

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he's kind of scrambling to put his bracelets back on to hide those still very visible and painful-looking scars and bruises around his wrists*

It's fine. I needed to stretch anyway.

*he's still being... oddly polite and withdrawn, but he flashes a little tiny smile*

[seasides]

[Kai won't be mentioning them at all. in fact, he hasn't even glanced at Rikka's wrists.]

Well... you seemed like you were... uh. getting close to needing a break, so I figured I'd bring you some water and a snack.

[nodding over to where he put those down.]

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he's visibly surprised at that, and feels pretty grateful, even if he doesn't say so*

... I'm pretty tough. But I guess I could take a break.

[seasides]

[he shrugs, smiling a little.]

Even tough guys need breaks occasionally. After all, no point in training if you're just going to overwork yourself and get bedridden, right?

[earthwaterlight.livejournal.com]

[Hikari's not wanting to distract him or anything so she just wanders in quietly to find a jump rope.]

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he doesn't really even notice, wiping the sweat from his neck and getting lost in the loud music -- he's a big fan of distraction lately*

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he smiles to convey his thanks, though the comment about being bedridden makes him flush red, since he's been bedridden for weeks; can he have a sip of water now?*

[seasides]

[of course, of course.]

How long have you been in here?

... :D?

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

[There's a not-quite-familiar face leaning against the doorway, just watching with his arms crossed and a closed expression.]

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*looks at his mp3 player's clock*

... three and a half hours.

*translation: Dad's going to kill me*

[seasides]

[tiny wince get. he can imagine that translation, yes.]

Sounds like it's definitely time for a break.

it's a silver-haired party

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he hasn't noticed, just continues to run as hard as his legs will carry him, sweat running down his back*

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

I haven't ran the whole time.

*he'd die of exhaustion -- he wants a burger so bad; this is a good sign, his teenage boy appetite coming back*

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

[Shredder is making his way in slowly, though staying a good distance from any machinery. And Isi is just staying at the doorway, waiting for Rikka to either stop or notice him.]

[earthwaterlight.livejournal.com]

Hi Rikka!

[She says this just loud enough to be heard over his music]

Whatcha listening to?

[seasides]

I figured, but three and a half hours of working out? Or training, or whatever it is. Have you at least had breaks?

[careful, he's already starting to fuss over anyone important to him; Rikka defaults to that both because of who his parents are, and because of the little him.]

[maverick-blades.livejournal.com]

*he makes sure to take a long drink of the water, rivulets streaming from the corners of his mouth -- that should fill you in on about how many breaks he's had*

[seasides]

[he's quite frowny, and resisting the urge to tsk.]

I think you need more than just a snack.