Alexandra Udinov (lilbabochka) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-11-26 15:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !completed gdoc, !match-up, ~2017 november, ~50 points, ~~alexandra udinov (lilbabochka), ~~jane foster (astrosearcher) |
Who: Alex Udinov and Jane Foster
What: Random meeting
Where: Gym
When: Sometime before Thanksgiving
Warning: Low
Status: Closed/Match-up/Complete Gdoc
In Madison Valley, there were two different kind of people who went to the gym. Those who went because they missed the training, and those who went because they wanted to keep up the exercise
Fight Science Gym wasn't where the latter was usually found. It was the kind of place people went for more specific kinds of lessons, to learn a new style of combat to add onto what they already knew or earn a combat sport from one of the many experts the gym employed. It wasn't the kind of place a casual athlete went to run on a treadmill or take a yoga class. But that never meant it wasn't busy. There were more than enough people from all kinds of backgrounds in town to keep it busy and classes full.
Music, upbeat and energetic, played just a little loudly through the gym’s sound system, pairs and groups of people, one on one lessons or group classes, worked together, sparring or moving through careful execution of new techniques, teachers stopping their students to correct form or offer encouragement.
It wasn't the sort of gym someone might expect to see a scientist in, but it was designed to be welcoming.
***
Alex was one of those people who could regularly be found at a gym like this. For one thing, she did try to get a workout in at least once daily. For another, she worked here. She taught self defense to some, and sometimes she just helped people get settled into a workout.
She did notice Jane stop in. She didn't know the woman well, but she did know she was from Pietro and Wanda's world. She also knew she wasn't exactly the type to be in the gym that often. She wasn't against it at all. She knew anyone could be interested in learning some gym-like skills.
"Hi," she greeted as she approached Jane. She smiled warmly, letting the other woman know she was friendly. "Do you need help with anything?"
She was asking as an employee as she was supposed to do, but she was also genuinely curious.
***
Jane didn’t know the difference between one gym to the next. She was just looking for a good kickboxing class or something she could do to just take better care of herself. Adulting and all that. Since this was the gym she knew a bunch of people from her world went to, this was where she’d decided to check out first.
She was grateful to see a familiar face at least and smiled at Alex. “Hey, Alex,” Jane greeted, relieved that at least it was someone she knew. Now she wouldn’t have to try to be too normal. “I’m just trying to find something to do. Kickboxing? It can be anything really. I’m trying to take better care of myself.” She said it all in a bit of a rush but that was just how she talked.
***
"You came to the right place," Alex said, grinning. "We have kickboxing classes here as well as other self-defense styles."
She took a lot of pride in her work. It wasn't the same as her spy-work, but she felt it was just as important. It was nice helping others learn to take care of themselves this way.
***
Oh. Jane looked around and realized the place was called Fight Science Gym. "I was really just looking for a place to work out..." she trailed off, not really sure if this was the right place for her or if she'd committed some kind of faux pas for not wanting to learn self defense.
"I probably should've looked a little closer than just seeing 'science' in the name." She was terrible at being an adult. Why did anyone let her try?
***
"That's really not a problem," Alex replied. "This place can be used as just a regular gym, too."
In fact, it was an extension of the regular gym anyway. Jane wasn't really in the wrong place.
"I can help you get set up for a workout if you'd like." She gave a reassuring smile. "You're not obligated at all to learn self-defense."
She didn't judge anyone who didn't want to learn. All she could do was teach those who did want to learn.
***
Jane sighed in relief when Alex assured her it was all just fine. "Yea, just a regular workout or something would be good," she replied. "Thanks. Sorry I'm so all over the place." She must seem like some kind of crazy woman or something.
"My ward got sent home a while ago now and I just feel like I'm at loose ends," she explained. "My boyfriend and my niece are probably getting sick of me by now so I thought I'd give working out a try. I know I should take better care of myself than I actually do." Jane had some muscle just from lugging around equipment all the time, but Madison Valley didn't really have that in the same way. The gym would, hopefully, compensate for what she was missing from back home.
***
Alex didn't think she seemed like a crazy person. She did seem like someone who wasn't usually at the gym and just got a little lost. It happened from time to time.
"I'm sorry to hear about your ward," she said sympathetically. "I lost a ward almost two years ago and I still think about her."
That was understandable. She could understand why Jane could use working out as a partial distraction.
"I find that working out does make me feel better both physically and mentally," she continued. "Though I am in no way speaking for everyone."
Sometimes working out wasn't for everyone. The only way to found out was to try, and it seemed that's what Jane was attempting to do.
***
Jane’s face twisted in sympathy. “I pulled myself off the guardian list after. At least for now. It’s hard.” Lindsay had reminded her a lot of herself so it felt extra crappy. She was more sad than angry though so who knew how working out would go.
“It’s a fairly common result of working out,” Jane replied easily as she followed Alex. “It has to do with endorphins but I don’t know the specifics. Bruce is the people doctor, and Strange is, too. He’s kind of a pompous jerk though.” Well, he had been before his accident. Jane only knew what had been in the papers though so she wasn’t as well informed as the man himself was.
“Do you teach any classes here?” Jane asked curiously.
***
"Since I live at the farm now, I haven't really had a reason to take a new ward in. We kind of take some in as a group, really." There were a few kids living with them, and it seemed to be working out well. Taking one in on her own wasn't something she was ready to do, not since Liesl had gone.
She did believe working out was a good way to deal with sadness, too. It provided a distraction if that's what was needed. It also provided a way to work through any issues. At least that's what worked for Alex. She knew everyone was different.
"I teach some self-defense classes," she said. "But I do other things, too like prepare exercise equipment." Again, she wasn't going to try to force Jane into the self-defense portion. If Jane ever changed her mind, Alex would be happy to instruct her.
It wasn't fantastically paying job, but it was a living. Plus, she was good at it.
***
“Well, if there are beginner classes, I guess it couldn’t hurt to try out.” Jane wasn’t completely against the idea, but she didn’t think it would stick in the long run. Maybe though. Stranger things had happened to her after all.
From there, it was fairly straightforward to walk through a couple of exercises and Jane appreciated that Alex was taking the time to show her the proper way to do things. She made sure to thank the other woman when she left her to it.