daybreakacademy | Work It Out

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Work It Out

WHO: Orihime Inoue, OPEN
WHAT: Orihime tries out the training facility. There aren't any laser robots or floor buzzsaws.
WHEN: January 27th, Evening
WHERE: Legionnaire Training Facility

She was definitely impressed not only with how much equipment there was for the students, but how varied it was, too. Secret training in the woods was great for strengthening her powers, but her body needed to be strong too. While she wasn't much of a weight lifter, she did like sports. She took a peek at the basketball courts, but they were all in use, so...maybe later, she decided. Racquetball looked fun, she could easily do that on her own. But it seemed a little...pathetic? Lonely? It didn't really suit her mood.

Then she found that there were batting cages with an automatic pitcher, and she knew she'd found the best way to pass the next hour. If she was going to carry a baseball bat to the dance (and she absolutely was), then it would probably do her some good to get used to swinging it again and practice her aim at the same time.

She was surprisingly good at it. She dug in with the ball of her foot and twisted at the waist when she swung, putting her whole body into it. The satisfying crack of a bat smashing the baseball to send it arcing high, higher, hitting the netted ceiling before dropping, the vibrations it sent through her wrist and arms...she loved that. It would have sent an outfielder scrambling for sure! The machine whirred and Orihime hunkered, ready for the next shot.

She got a lot more hits than misses, and after the buzzer sounded to indicate an hour had passed, her arms and shoulders were nice and sore. She put away her equipment and rubbed at the back of her neck. It was a good way to work up a sweat, but she wasn't sure she wanted to call it quits.

So, she rented a bathing suit from the equipment check-out counter, changed into it, and stuffed her long, chestnut hair into a fitted cap so it wouldn't get damaged by the chlorine.

Walking on the textured concrete and smelling the mix of pool chemicals brought back a nostalgic wave of summer memories and she found herself smiling. She padded barefoot around the enormous pool, finding a spot where there weren't any swimmers to accidentally leap on, and hopped right into the water.

Cold!

...But then it got warmer as her body adjusted.

She scrubbed her hands over her face, blinking the water from her lashes, then pushed off with her feet to start swimming. She'd never done this in winter before, but she found herself enjoying the contrast. Her curves didn't seem to slow her down as she knifed through the water, using her strength to kick her legs and pump her arms. She was still a little sore, but the water felt good and didn't put as much strain on her muscles.

Eventually, after nearly an hour had passed, she hauled herself out of the pool and walked dripping back to the changing rooms to shower off and wrap herself in a thick white towel. She'd never been in a real sauna before, but she heard they were relaxing, so she decided to try that out. Her towel stayed firmly tucked as she took a place on one of the benches. And coughed. The steam was a little difficult to get used to, and it seemed ridiculously hot. But she stuck it out, beads of sweat clinging to her brow and body.

The only part she didn't like was the way her thoughts kept straying to the exchange of messages on her phone.

'you dont have to go with me to the dance!'

It still stung. She didn't know how to make her feelings clear, and she knew she would have to. But it was so awkward, and really, wouldn't it be better if she just kept quiet? ...Honestly, she didn't know. It was a little annoying, though, that her hours of exercise had delayed the sourness in her throat only temporarily. Maybe after the dance. It was a long time away, and she might figure out the right words by then.

When the steam was too stifling to bear any longer, Orihime left, taking another brief shower before toweling off and changing into her winter clothes. The shock of the cold January air stole her breath away when she stepped outside, a stark contrast to the balmy heat of the sauna. She shivered and zipped up her coat, gloved hands tugging the scarf higher over her mouth and nose as she hurried back to the dorms. It was pretty late, she'd have to be quiet in case Tatsumaki was already asleep.

[OOC: Places of interaction are the batting cages, pool, sauna, the walk home, and the Aube Dorm!]

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"I see..." she nodded thoughtfully. She hadn't known about that. It was no wonder people would look askance at someone who willingly made a contract with the fey if they really did seem to make 'messing with humans' a top priority.

"I'll have to be more on guard, then," she decided. "I didn't know they were such good spies!"

Fakir seemed to know so much about the fey, it seemed like she might be able to ask a couple more questions without seeming suspicious. "Do you know very many people that made contracts with fey spirits? I heard the deal was supposed to be kind of unreliable."

Her text message only made him cry again (and smile at her emoji). Because she cared. He didn't send a return message, he didn't know how to respond. Orihime had made progress with him, but unbeknownst to her, her call a few days later would undo all her work.

The question makes Yuya stop, staring blankly for a moment. He hasn't really thought far into his future at all when they're here to fight Nightfall, and no idea how long that will last as some post apocalypse. He might have to spend the rest of a short life to protect others, which is what makes holding onto the things that bring them joy so valuable for him now.

"Ah... I don't know," he starts finally, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I'm in the theater club, and it only helps my performance to be strong and agile, right?"

"I don't think you'll be seeing those around, not with their King sealed away." He really hopes so, but he still don't trust them crovids. "Not many... but I know of one."

Fakir stops, lips pursed, the grip on his bag's straps tightened. "Drosselmeyer. He handed over my town to the Raven King for the ability to turn his stories into reality. Aside from him dying because of the townspeople chopping his hands off, I can't say if there was any record of that deal going wrong for him."

[ "Odd" wouldn't be the word Kano would use to describe her, when he really wants to believe she's genuine in all the things she likes, and if he can believe she is, that's really something remarkable. "Cool" isn't the word he'd use for himself either, let alone extra cool, but as always, it's something he laughs off and neither denies nor addresses. ]

Hm... Well, Number One is the leader, the Danchou! Then there's number Two, and Three- that's me- and you're number Four. As for roles, there aren't any official titles, but each person plays a ve~ry special part in the club! That's why I asked about what you liked to do, you see? You definitely sound like a good fit so far~

She doesn't disbelieve him. He supposes that's to be expected in a place like this where everyone had all kinds of crazy powers. But the fact that she doesn't immediately connect who he's talking about is... a little worrying.

But maybe it's just been a long time. Maybe she doesn't remember. It would break Sora's heart, surely, but it's a better line of thought than thinking he's been tricked by a ghost for something more nefarious. And he kind of wants to believe Sora.

He nods his head, looking serious and waiting for more of a response. His brightens a little nodding more at her offer. "Yes! Yes, of course! I've been seeing him around, he's got this suit and sort of medium length hair that's dark and... ah, but, the picture would make this quicker!"

He looks from the door and back to her again. "Do you have that with you? Or..."

[Orihime slams out another one a split second after Ren does, but she's not paying much attention to where it goes. All that matters is making sure she can hit it, and thus, hit demons.]

It sounds fun! I'd like to wake up to good smells of coffee and hot chocolate and fresh pastries every day. I'd never wake up in a bad mood again!

[Does she ever, though?]

[Ren's next hit connects a bit better, he gives a small pump of his fist in celebration]

We didn't do pastries there, but the coffee always smelled good. My guardian was really skilled. He made good curry, too.

"It doesn't hurt!" she beamed. "...Unless you cartwheel into the orchestra pit, I guess. But I don't think you would."

Racing probably wouldn't help much in his aspirations to be a stuntman. Orihime turns, the water rippling at her shoulders, and she fixes her gaze on the diving board. Pointing at it, she turns back to Yuya.

"Can you do fancy stunt dives?"

"Stunt dives?" Yuya looks up to where she points. He doesn't totally know what a fancy stunt dive is? But--he turns back to her with a grin.

"How fancy do you want to see?" He's spent plenty of time around water to have done a few rope-swing dives. He's sure he can put on some sort of show.

Orihime's eyebrows shot up. They chopped his hands off? The whole town took a vote and decided that was the best course of action? She couldn't even imagine something like that happening in Tokyo or Calais.

"How old were you when that happened?" she asked, suddenly concerned. She hadn't missed the tension that seemed to flood his entire body when he spoke of it.

...You're not the Danchou?

[Somehow she assumed he was the founder and leader of the secret group, since he'd taken the initiative to screen new members. If he's number three, and she's number four...then did that make her the first person he picked? That's so flattering!]

Ah! I hope I am! I'll work hard to be helpful and support the others! What's the club about? Do we have a mission?

"He's in my room. I'll go get him!" She pushed open the door and slipped into the hallway, just before the sound of her footsteps accelerated into a run that faded away.

It was probably odd to speak of a picture as a 'him' but she'd spent a lot of time speaking to the photograph as if it really were her brother. Did that mean he'd really heard her praying for him? Did he know that she was okay? That he didn't need to worry about her happiness?

After retrieving the photograph, she returned to the study room and shut the door behind her. "This is my onii-chan...anou...my brother. Sora." Orihime smiled as she held up the framed photograph, and there he was. He looked happier in the picture, and so close to Orihime's face, it was impossible not to notice the similarities in their features. The eyes, especially, made their relation obvious.

It's not an entirely foreign concept. That was how a lot of photos of dead loved ones were treated back home, as far as he could ever tell from other families that is. what he's really wondering is if she's going to come back or not. Even here it's hard not to wonder and worry sometimes if people will think you're crazy.

But she comes back, photo in hand, and he breathes a small sigh of relief before moving closer. He peers down at the picture and laughs in surprise. "That's him! That's the guy! That's..." Sora...

His face falls a little and he reaches out for that photo, not taking it from Orihime, but tracing the frame with his fingers.

"He must have been older than me..." But not by much. He'd died at twenty three. They were terribly close in age, an irony considering this wasn't an age people typically saw themselves dying at.

"You still keep his picture with you... doesn't it hurt? To remember him?"

"That was before I was born, Drosselmeyer's been dead for over a century. The Fay took my town afterwards, when I was pretty young. Didn't matter if Drosselmeyer was dead, they still enforced their end of the deal."

Nope~

[ It's hard to tell which of the three had originally come up with the idea, but after he'd left for Daybreak three years ago, he'd all but presumed the gang would die with his departure; now that they'd come together again, he can't help but want to make it grow. Minako would probably be alright with it... With Ellie, it might take some more time, but he's sure she'll like Orihime— because he does. ]

The mission as of right now, is one that I'm working on~ But there will be more in the future, so as a member of the Dan, you'll have to be prepared whenever you're called upon! Can I count on you, Number Four? I want you to join, so you're not allowed to refuse~

Ohhhh...I haven't had curry in a long time. Nice shot!

[She rolls her shoulder, preparing for the next ball.]

I never really pictured eating curry and drinking coffee, but they both have wonderful smells. So I guess that's something they have in common!

Do you know how to make coffee and curry too, now?

"The fanciest you can confidently do without scaring the lifeguard!" she proclaimed cheerfully. After all, it was hard to cheer on a stunt if she was terrified that he'd do something to snap his neck. "I can't wait to see it!"

Thanks. And yeah I do. The curry recipe was apparently designed to go well with the coffee, it's a good combination.

[He pauses for a moment to give Orihime a chance to take a crack at the ball]

Older? Orihime couldn't really guess Hector's age, but she assumed he was at least thirty. She looked at Sora's face again. She supposed he did seem mature, but all teenagers and adults seemed that way to little kids.

"We're twelve years apart," she smiled. "I don't remember when that picture was taken, but...eeto...I guess he was twenty-four when he passed away. I forget sometimes how young that is, for someone to die."

Her throat felt tight as she gazed at his gently smiling face, protected behind the thin sheet of glass.

"And sometimes it's all I think about, ne...? How short life really is. How it's important to live every day to the fullest." Her gaze fell away as her smile quieted. It's why she tried so hard to experience as much as she could, always leaping at the chance to try new food, go new places, and hold tightly to the people she loved.

Her eyes moved back to Hector's face and she chuckled sheepishly at his question. "A little! A little bit. But it feels good too, to remember how nice he was to me, and how much he gave up for my sake. I love him so much." She held the picture a little closer to her chest. "You really saw him...? Was he okay?"

"Oh...I guess it's a little less barbaric if it's not so recent, then..." People were just like that back then. It was pretty awful, but she was glad to know she wouldn't visit some place as a tourist and see someone's body lopped apart.

"How did they take your town? Was it just transported whole into the Outworld, or did they just move in and kick people out?"

Ha ha! I suppose I can't, or my ego would be irreparably shattered! I'll happily join!

[She's always up for an adventure, and even harbors a little mischief herself. But she does have certain moral limits, so he might wind up disappointed. Nonetheless, she's really excited, and she salutes.]

Just let me know where I'm needed!

"Okay!" Yuya's shoulders briefly tense even as hes5smiling, resolving to make this a good impression. Maybe he can just buy himself some seconds to think...

"Give me a minute." He bounces back before turning on his heels, running to the check out stand. It takes a couple minutes to rent swim trunks and change, so he doesn't freeze himself up in his clothes (again) but as soon as he's set he comes running back, waving his hand.

"All right! I'm going to the highest one, so watch me." He grins wide before starting to walk past Orihime. When he puts his back to her like this, the scars on his back are uncovered--long thick marks that jag all the way up and down, paler from years of healing but still painfully, permanently raised. For a moment, Yuy as forgets about them.

"It's... too early," He agrees. "You don't really realize how much so until you reach that age and see you aren't ready." And that it doesn't matter. Death doesn't wait for anyone to be ready.

He takes in the pain on her face. She doesn't have to say it. He can tell she loves him. She misses him. She hasn't forgotten.

She hasn't got a bad philosophy. It's just a shame it had to come from this. Then just like that, he's brought to the present. She hugs that photo and he feels at a loss for words for a second.

"Yeah. Yeah I saw him. He was..." He frowns, uncertain. "He was okay, I think. He just seemed... kind of lonely. I think he misses you. I think he misses you a lot. And he's happy to see you happier and not sad for him but... I think, that he thinks, that if he says anything it will make you sad." A beat. "And I think he is going to be very unhappy with me for having said that."

Orihime smiled, her expression bittersweet. He'd been trapped here for three years, watching over her all this time. She'd been so scared that no one would be there to light incense for him anymore, or to wash his marker when she moved to France. But he was with her...

Her smile faded and grew more solemn as a dark, prickly feeling started to stab at her insides.

"...Why...hasn't he been able to pass over...?" She lifted her eyes to look at Hector's face, worried. "Is it because of me?"

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Work It Out

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