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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There were a lot of things that made up Orihime's person: creativity, insecurity, a longing to be useful, regrets, hopes, warmth, kindness, selfishness...and a fading loneliness that wasn't nearly as severe as it used to be.

Her magic on the other hand was unique. It was like a novice symphony of seven different instruments, not quite in sync, but generally playing the same melody.

She smiled back and shifted where she sat, wiping her brow with the back of her wrist.

"...I hope it's not too hot. I didn't adjust it because I wasn't sure what was considered normal for a sauna."

There's a delay between Orihime talking and Maya's response, Maya's always a little slow to react to things. "I don't care, I'm fine."

So long as it isn't so hot either of them faints, or so cold it stops doing anything. Maya is chill. For now Maya's mind is trying to ignore a question tugging at her mind. A question she doesn't need to ask, she doesn't really want to think about it. She wanted to work through herself, her life, her choices. But it just keeps nagging at her. There's an discordant nature to this other girl's magic. Like it's all sorts of things all at once and Maya can't really recognize any of them. Well, she's a candle, she can pick out the sounds of that.

The girl herself is- not a mirror for Maya, but the sounds carry a story that is at least a rhyme to Maya's own. A lot of good and a lot of bad all rolled into one. Maybe she was in here for the same reason, to work out her thoughts away from people? Or maybe she was waiting for someone to ask how she was? It was a lot to work out.

"If you're uncomfortable, you can turn it down. I don't mind so long as it's still steamy."

"Oh, you're a sauna veteran! I'll think of this as training, then."

It was hard to say if she was joking or not. She was still smiling, but her tone of voice was her usual chipper one. (Honestly she thought it was funnier that way.)

She paused for a moment, then figured she should at least introduce herself. "I'm Orihime. Grade 10. Anou...I don't really know sauna etiquette, so let me know if I'm doing anything incorrectly."

Like talking.

"I've never done this before in my life and have no idea what I'm doing."

Maya was just sure it couldn't be that hard. You stay in the room until you feel like you might faint, and then leave before you do faint. Right? Maya's voice doesn't carry a lot of affect, it's lacking like she's only half-attentive to the world. But she's talked into a conversation now, so there's no escaping that.

Maya's hand moved to her lips, not quite chewing on her fingertips but just a step away, "Maya. Grade 12. What exactly are your powers, they sound like- I've heard something but it isn't exactly right."

"Really? Me either, ha ha HACK COUGH!"

Darn steam.

She subsided into sheepish chuckles. "I guess you just made it seem natural. But you really heard my power?"

That surprised her. Most people couldn't even see her power. In fact, she could think of only two at the moment, but she'd also had few reasons to use her powers since they first awakened.

"I'm a healer. My powers only just showed up a few months ago, so I'm still learning about them. To be honest, I don't really know much at all. What do they sound like?"

"I don't really- do anything, to make it seem natural."

Maya just isn't too pressed about details anymore. She has enough on her mind.

Maya closed her eyes, describing the sounds varied. It was easier with musical folks, those who knew their instruments and tunes, as those weaved into their soul in ways that made this simple. Others it was sounds like something, but it wasn't that something. Trying to put words to the impossible. Still, Maya slowly breathed and listened, her breath having no sound to it as is usual, "I'm hearing... six- no, seven different magics. One of them is soft, like harpstrings? But it carries a sound of a flickering fire to it too, an echo from the sound... that's a Candle's ability. The other six are- different."

Maya looked down, "Sorry. If I don't know what I'm hearing, it's hard to say what it is. I know one of those six is I can't recognize is your healing abilities, but until I meet healing magic in someone else, I can't say which."

"Oh? Maybe doing nothing is the secret."

She was quiet when Maya started concentrating. While she was understandably nervous about someone detecting the source of her powers, she was also starved for more information. Any clue would have been gratefully received.

Or at least, she was internally grateful. Externally, she was forced to lie.

"Mmm...maybe it's different levels of healing. Like, one is for treating cuts, one for headaches, one for bruises...things like that. I'm not really sure!" she shrugged with a wry smile. "Anyway, even healers have pretty different magic, as far as I can tell. So it wouldn't surprise me if another healer's music was different. But I like thinking that it has music." She smiled down at her knees. "It's kind of pretty. That sounds like a neat power to have."

Maya's brow furrowed. That doesn't feel right. If they were all the same magic they'd sound more alike. They do different things. Some of them, pairs and connected qualities. They also aren't the abilities of a Candle. The echo is wrong. "Six of the patterns echo like chiming bells, small and light. It's- whatever it is, it isn't a Candle's light."

Maya sighed, her powers were constantly intruding, useful but with a cost. Costs, that's the way of the world isn't it? "It has some disadvantages. Hear and now its pretty great. Now that I know what it is and can try to control it. But I still hear more than people want me to know. Things they didn't intend to share. That's a lot to handle."

And Maya does her best, which means she messes up a lot.

"Oh...I guess that would be difficult. A lot of mages like to keep their powers secret, don't they?" She'd been lectured on that a few times when she got too curious.

But it was definitely time to change the subject. Maybe later, when she felt confident enough in who she was and what she could do, she could afford to be more honest. For now, she just didn't know how people would react, and she didn't want to be alienated for her abilities.

"Ne! Are you the same Maya that asked Peter to the dance?"

"Yeah, just knowing things is dangerous, piercing someone's defenses finding out they're insecure? It's not easy if people know that's what you do." Maya leaned back, "That and I didn't know magic was real so people often thought I was crazy."

She's been in therapy for years so, she was still crazy. Just- not for all the reasons people thought. As for the shift in conversation, Maya looked a little unsure of the topic. But, eventually, she nodded.

"I wanted a friend who knows a bit about my deal. Not be surprised by some of my issues."

"I guess we're all a little bit insecure," Orihime admitted. That much, at least, she didn't mind confessing if that's what Maya managed to pick up. "I see what you mean. But it still seems useful. Sometimes when people know who you are, you can relax, and really just be yourself."

It was why she liked Tatsumaki and Peter so much. There wasn't much she could hide from them (especially with Tatsumaki being a psychic!).

...Well. Almost not much.

"That seems like a good reason! He was so happy about it, too." She clasped her hands together, fingers laced. "I think it helped his confidence."

"It isn't all bad. I can eat chips in class and never get caught too." Maya clapped her hands and no sound happened, "Just- dangerous, you know?"

As to the commentary about Peter's confidence, Maya almost smiled. It was nearly there but then she remembered herself and didn't, "He's nice. Which is- better than my usual track record. And boys are stupid it's better to just ask them or nothing ever happens."

"Wow! A magic mute button! That's amazing!"

She wished she could eat chips in class like that...

But it was kind of helping her feel less awful the more she talked about Peter with Maya. "He really is. I almost choked on my drink when he said he's not cool. He can make superhero tech! And he's agile, and fast, and kind! I couldn't believe he wouldn't be popular, even if people didn't know about his powers." She folded her arms across her chest and sighed.

"That's really brave of you, too. Tatsumaki-chan is the same way. I really admire that. I don't think I'd ever have the courage to ask somebody out. I worry too much that I'll annoy them or make them feel obligated because they don't know how to say 'no' gracefully, ha ha!"

"That feeling you've got, right now? That's probably why Peter say he's not cool. That doubt in the back of your mind, but... it isn't telling you the truth. Or not the whole truth." Maya's voices said far darker and crueler things than that, and she wished her powers could mute those. Alas, that's not how it works. "Plus, looking like that? What boy would want to say no."

Okay so maybe Orihime's arms around her chest kinda lead Maya to that statement. Maya was just glad she has something going on there, as little as it is by comparison. "If you like a guy, or girl, or- anyone, Ask. Worse that can happen is they says no."

That's a lie, Maya knows that's a lie from her own life, but nobody else has quite her luck. Best not to give any sour ideas.

She looked down at her chest, as if remembering oh yeah those weren't really average, blinked, and looked back up again. Honestly, lots of people made comments on her body, so she was kind of used to it and wasn't embarrassed. "I just want to date someone who thinks I'm funny," she admitted. "A good sense of humor is really valuable!"

Orihime was listening, though. She just didn't think she could write that off as the worst scenario, not when her imagination could come up with so much more.

But...life was short, she knew that. And it would be awful to face another scenario where she regretted not saying what she should have.

So she nodded a little and smiled. "I guess you're right. Fortune favors the bold, and the bold favor fortune cookies!"

She still wasn't going to ask anyone to the ball, though.

"Well, just talk to people. If they laugh at your jokes ask them out." Maya's a little more pragmatic now, compared to where she was a long time ago. Maya wasn't terribly worried, she couldn't hear any reason people wouldn't ask Orihime out. It wasn't like she was harboring some dark side from what she was listening to.

Maya did smile, this time, at the absurdity of the line, "That- I don't think that's right. Well, I guess the bold favor fortune cookies. But you only get what you work for. If you don't make the attempt, you can't expect a result. Right?"

"I think everyone favors fortune cookies," she beamed, starting to really relax and enjoy the conversation. "You sure know a lot about how dating works! I'll have to practice..."

Tatsumaki was getting a full-length mirror, so that might serve an extra purpose.

But that last part...her smile faded as she furrowed her brow, thinking deeply. "That's true," she said quietly. "And if someone doesn't feel like you worked for them...they won't feel that happy thrill that they deserve to feel."

"Well, I was thirteen when I started dating? I've learned a few things since then." Not all of them were kind lessons. Maya sags a little at this thought.

"Working for it doesn't have to be a lot, telling someone you like their outfit. Or they look nice, bringing them a snack? Little ways to show you care mean a lot." Not cheating on them when you're out of town for a day. Maya dismisses that and moves on, with a smile, "It's not that hard, just getting things started is weird, but you can work it out."

She nodded. It was slow at first, thoughtful, then with more vigor as she gained conviction. Maybe she could do that. Tatsumaki and Maya both made it look really easy. Even if it was scary, if she was honest about her intentions, and made it clear that the other person wasn't obligated to say yes to her... Well, sure, she'd like to try dating! That was essential to a teenage life experience.

"Then...if I meet someone I like that much, I'll try it. Thank you!" She could build that special someone's confidence, whoever it turned out to be.

Hopefully someone funny!

"No problem," Maya felt somewhat good about helping. However she also felt a little bad, because while she wanted it to work for Orihime, Maya knew what could happen. But- that could wait.

"So... how do you know Peter?"

She wiped her brow again, smiling, and definitely feeling better. "We met just a little while ago, the first day of the semester. He let me try out his web shooters in the forest, and it was so much fun! We were pretty much friends from that point on," she laughed.

"Ne, what about you? What made you fall in love with him?" she asked, beaming eagerly.

Because obviously, if she asked him out, she had to harbor some small spark of romance in her heart!

Maya arched an eyebrow at the word. Love. It wasn't- love wasn't the word yet, it wasn't a love thing. Maya couldn't just dive into love again. Not the way she was anymore. So she'll put that off for now.

"He was wandering around on the side of a building. It seemed weird, we started talking. Then he conned me into picking a fight with one of the RA's in my building." It was, pretty much, the way that went down. He meant well for it, he was picking a fight that was needed. Although he didn't know where it'd go when they were done. Maya adjusted her towel, squirming a bit. "But, he's kind. I could hear that even without my powers. And when I- when I was having a rough night he was there for me, to talk me down from my... past. Catching up to me."

Orihime's cheery expression softened. She nodded. "He's easy to talk to. And trust." She could definitely understand why Maya would love him. It really didn't take much time at all, did it?

"Ask him about the time he fought a guy in a mechanical bird costume. That's a good story," she advised. Not as sage or life-edifying as what Maya told her, but still worth hearing.

"Do you have a dress picked out yet?"

"He's really bad at keeping Spider-Man a secret..." There was a playful lilt in her voice at that. "I'll ask him about that."

Maya shifts a little at the question, "I have a couple performance outfits. And, um- my prom dress I didn't get to wear. None of them seem right for 'attacked by demons.'"

It was a concern. She was planning on flats instead of heels for this too.

Spider-Man? ...Probably a nickname for his spider-powers!

"I could make some alterations to your prom dress, if you like," she offered with a wide smile. "So it's easier to move in, and store weapons, things like that! I'm hanging some netting in the underskirts of my gown so I can hang a baseball bat and a crowbar there until they're needed."

Wearing skirts definitely came with advantages!

"What do you like to fight with? It'd be easy to make your outfit battle ready!"

Work It Out

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