Orihime Inoue (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
leekspins) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
daybreakacademy2019-01-26 01:18 pm
leekspins) wrote in daybreakacademy2019-01-26 01:18 pm
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!]
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!]
no subject
"It was three years ago. He gave me these hairpins as a gift. But at the time, I was being bullied by these older girls that would cut my hair. I didn't want to wear the pins because I was afraid I'd draw attention to myself, so I refused to wear them. But I couldn't tell him why, I didn't want him to worry...so I said they were childish and stupid. I was scared, so...I lashed out. I went to sleep with my back to him, and didn't tell him goodbye or to have a nice day when he left for work. Then..."
Her lashes lowered and her smile faded. "There was an accident. I carried him on my back to the closest clinic, and they tried their best, but..they couldn't save him." Her hands tightened in her lap. "The last words I said to the person I loved most, who took care of me and protected me and gave up everything just for my sake, were angry and petulant. I always regretted that. I still do. And I was depressed for over a year after it happened, I can't even remember much of it. Tatsumaki-chan was the one who reached out to me and helped me move forward again."
At that, at least, she did smile. And with a shaky little laugh, she reached out to clasp his hand in both of hers and squeeze it. "I won't pretend our situations or feelings are the same. I'm not even sure if it would help you more to ask about it, or distract you from it, or to just...be there because you need some company, I guess. But if you need something and I can give it...tell me." She shook her head. "I won't be uncomfortable. I'd actually be really honored if you felt like you could rely on me."
no subject
"Distraction isn't working anymore," he wasn't as calm and quiet as he intended, but it was progress.
He didn't know what would work, or how far he could get. He couldn't even get a sentence out with Yuya; he'd gotten further yelling at Gongenzaka in Soleil, but it had still been vague. He expected the vivid flashbacks to interrupt him early on, but he still wanted to try and tell her.
"She, she took care of me too," he wanted her to know he understood her feelings as well, at least a little. "My sister. Ginshu. Last month, we went to the Nezu shrine and it was... a good day, we went later and were still there in the evening."
There was no emotion in his voice by the end. He had separated himself from it in order to continue; consciously recreating familiar experiences he had where nothing truly existed, and that he had likened to watching a television screen - a world he wasn't part of and couldn't connect with.
"When it got dark, the werewolf came. From near the torii gates. It killed her, and two others. Quick, they said. Minutes. But it felt like days. I stood and watched it, watched it tear off her arm, and her face, and rip into her with its claws. By the end, there were so many pieces. And blood. Lots of blood. I couldn't save her. I didn't even try."
He pulled his hand away from hers. He still hadn't looked at her once.
"You were doing something. I'm sorry I interrupted. I should go back now."
He turned and walked away from her without waiting for a response. He would leave her to her training. It was important for some reason. The gate squeaked as he opened the cage door; he left it open, and left the bat he'd brought on the ground where he'd dropped it.
no subject
Her gaze fell to the ground for a few moments. What a horrible thing to see... It was no wonder he'd reacted the way he had those past few times. She dug into her pocket for her phone and opened it up, then tapped at the tiny buttons.
Meanwhile, a few minutes later, Tokidoki would hear a 'beep!' to indicate a new text message had been received.
You'll never be a bother. Thank you for trusting me.
I'm rooting for you!
(9'_')9
no subject