Alexa says you can call me Al (runawaygirl) wrote in mnhttnprjct, @ 2010-06-02 20:40:00 |
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Alex: Alex wasn't really sure what drew her to accept the man's offer to meet him at his gym. Maybe it was that Nick had vouched for him, but in either way, it gave her something to do, a connection in this chaotic world she was in now. Perhaps it would be nothing, but he'd seemed genuine, and it was something she could do perhaps to help him in exchange for something, as opposed to out and out charity like a few people had offered. That made her feel uncomfortable. She didn't like the notion of owing someone something, of having that hanging over her head. Down that road led to being taken advantage of or who knew what, and she'd carefully side stepped most of the offers people, mostly well meaning, she was sure, had made to her over the past month and a half. Today though, she found herself walking through an unfamiliar section of New York, after spending some of her loose change on a subway ride. The gym was just ahead, and she stopped and watched it for a little while, catching a few people coming and going, before she pushed her shaggy hair back from her face and straightened her ever present back pack on one shoulder before opening the door. She stayed just inside the doorway for a few moments, hesitant and almost considering leaving, before taking a few steps in further to watch where a few people were practicing in a ring. The blows and punches made her eyes widen slightly, not sure she'd be able to do that, but after thinking that it would certainly help encourage people to leave her alone. SHIN: The gym was hardly your shiny, up-to-date fitness hub - most of the equipment within seemed well used and at least a decade or two old, everything faded and with a general sense or organized clutter. On the plus side, it didn't seem like your usual boys' club - there were as many women working out as men. Amidst grunts, the thuds of fists on bags and clanging dumbbells, one sound cut above all others: the authoritative park of a heavily accented man's voice. "Yaa, you call that a left hook? That wouldn't knock Milo down. Twenty minutes jump rope, eh? Then we try again. Jenny, you block your body too, elbows down. Core control, like this." Shin Kim trudged through the cacophony like a tired old bear, a towel draped over his shoulder as he tossed around advice and criticism. The body lingering in the doorway caught his eye and he turned to the new arrival, eyes narrowed inquisitively. "Nick's friend, yes?" ALEX: Alexa looked up, pausing for a moment, her eyes on him as if waiting for him to say something else before nodding. "Yes. I'm Al. Alex." She gave him a half smile and pushed her hair back behind her ears with her hand as she felt a sense of uncertainty come over her. It was one thing to talk to people she didn't know over the journals or strangers, but for some reason this old man made her feel nervous. "Well, I don't know if we're friends, but we know each other." She wondered how he'd known that or if he'd just observed it, but didn't say anything else, instead shifting from foot to foot. "He got me the mace. Well pepper spray, but close enough." SHIN: Shin's eyes seemed to be appraising the girl in front of him, though his impassive, pinched expression made it impossible to tell if the assessment involved pity, concern, doubt, or any such thing. Whatever the process he delivered his ruling in an equally indecipherable grunt, a terse jerk of his head indicating she should follow him into the gym. "Nick has no money for classes either, but he has money for mace?" The line came off under the guise of offhanded criticism, but despite the effort there seemed to be something approving in the old coach's tone. "You want classes, you share some of his duties, is okay. He'll be happy I think, maybe stop whining so much. Sort equipment, wash towels, mop ring." He stopped in the doorway of a small cluttered office and began shuffling through some papers, casting her an expectant look. "Yes?" ALEX: Alex shrugged, suddenly on guard and not wanting Nick to be in any sort of trouble. "I guess. He gave it to me for doing him a favor." She watched him as he shuffled papers, and at his comment nodded. "I can do that," she said. "Clean the floor, whatever you want. I'm not afraid of hard work." She folded her arms as she leaned against the door frame, not aware of the image of tired, wary girl it made. She shrugged again. "I'm not doing anything else just now anyway, so, you know, it's not a problem." He was tough, and she wondered if maybe she ought to just go, maybe she was wasting both of their time, she wasn't even sure why she was here. SHIN: Shin made one of his characteristic grunts of assent, and though he generally seemed to be searching for something amidst the clutter of the office, he was also discreetly watching Alex out of the corner of his eye. Taking in the tired posture, assessing the defensive edge to her voice, and all with a practiced air of general disinterest. "You live in D3?" He asked offhandedly, cautiously keeping his voice clear of any pity or concern; a cautionary test of her reactions disguised as a formality. ALEX: The question put her on guard but she tried to hide it. "Yeah, sometimes," she said after a moment. "I kind of move around a lot. Not really found a good place to stay yet." That was close to the truth, kind of, anyway. She looked around the office before finally looking back at him, eyes hesitant as she shifted her bag on her shoulder. "I haven't been here too long." SHIN: "Mmm." Shin answered in a noncommittal mumble while skimming a leaflet of paper; he gave every indication of being generally uninterested in the matter of her accommodations. In truth he was already turning certain mental wheels to deduce how best to get a roof over her head, but his paternal senses were picking up on her skittishness loud and clear. Finally he extracted a crumpled printout that contained a mess of basic gym information, some obligatory protocol, contact information and a class schedule. He offered the pamphlet to his newest member, his guarded eyes giving the slightest hint of a knowing parental concern. "You come Monday night, eh? We get you gloves and start you off." ALEX: Alexa considered him for a moment before nodding. "Monday night," she said. "And I'll stay late and clean up or... whatever you need." She took the pamphlet from him without looking at it and nodded, before blurting out. "And thanks. Really. I look forward to it." |