sunday, June 30, 2013 Who: Rylee and Frankie When: sunday evening Where: sauna then pool What: Frankie's sore and Rylee offers to help
Frankie had really pushed herself today. She was already in great shape in terms of being trim and having stamina, but she wasn’t particularly strong. So she’d spent a lot of time with the free weights and machines, hoping to build more muscle. Her body wasn’t happy about the decision. She was aching already, so she could only imagine how sore she’d be tomorrow. Poor Lucas just might have to go without for a few days, because even her thighs were burning. Stupid squats.
She threw on a tank and some sweats and headed to the gym with a bottle of Gatorade. Electrolytes were her friend. Protein too. And the drink had both. She chugged away at it while walking. It was nearly empty by the time she reached the sauna and started to strip off her clothes in exchange for a fluffy, oversized towel.
Frankie sighed with delight as she stepped into the sweltering room. The heat felt so damn good. The little sprite already had some of her spirit back. She smiled and set down a second towel as a cushion on the wood planks. Why weren’t saunas built to be more comfortable?
---
Rylee knew what it was like to hurt after a workout. A good amount of soreness was almost necessary at least if you were trying to improve your level. If you were trying to maintain, it wasn’t nearly as necessary. But, when it stopped hurting, it was time to go on to heavier weights, more reps, something. Anything to keep your body working harder. Because if it didn’t hurt, it was too easy.
still, there was such a thing as working too hard. Rylee knew a lot about that, as well. she’d done it plenty - because she was pissed, or just damn determined. Whatever the case, she knew how to make it a little more bearable.
Rylee made her way to the sauna with a bottle of water, wearing her usual clothing. Today it was Tripp pants and a ripped up fishnet top with a bright green tank underneath. Lots of jewelry. Getting it all off before getting in the sauna took a bit. However, once she was stripped down, she donned her own towel and took another in just like Frankie.
“Yo, Firebug. You look like a cat in a sunbeam. Feeling better?” she asked as she didn’t just take a seat - she lay across one whole bench, using the extra towel as a pillow.
***
Firebug was one of those nicknames a lot of guys had used on her over the years. Frankie didn’t mind it, but at the same time she wished someone would come up with something a little more original.
She smiled, much like the Cheshire cat, “So much better. I wish I could live in here. Or in a fireplace. A really big one that I could just crawl into. That would be lovely.” She’d actually slept inside a burning fireplace once when she needed immediate relief from the cold. It was the year of that horrible snow storm in Massachusetts. The power went out, and there was no other way to get warm enough so she wouldn’t die. “Wonder if I could convince Kingsley to give me my own fireplace and sauna...”
---
No, it wasn’t particularly original, but Rylee was kind of a straightforward person. she didn’t do flowery or metaphorical. she could be creative, but Firebug had been apt enough that it had just kind of stuck.
“Yeah, so, you live in a fireplace, and I’m not really gonna be coming to visit you. Cuz I’m not fire proof. sorry, Frankster. That’s just how it is.” Rylee took a minute to look at her nails, then laid one arm over her eyes like she was sunbathing. she snorted at Frankie’s wishlist. “You already get alcohol. I wonder if I could convince Kingsley that I’m part something. something that also requires alcohol. And maybe partying. Fighting, too. Get out of that rule, that would be nice. But, if you do get those things, party at your place. Just saying.”
***
“You know, I bet you could talk Kingsley into it. Or anyone else for that matter. You can be charming when you wanna be.” Frankie laughed lightly and stretched out, her muscles starting to loosen as the heat sunk into them.
She was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Kingsley is pretty fair. Don’t ya think? I sorta got into an argument with Kim about it. She thinks he’s only been nice to me because he wants something. Even if that’s true, is it such a bad thing? I mean, he gave me a chance to do what I want. It was my decision. And he has taken good care of me so far. I’m happy here.”
---
Rylee chuckled. Yes, talking Kingsley into the belief that she was part Fire sprite or something. That would be effective. “I like to think I’m just so awesome, people have no choice but to give me what I want. That’s way better than being charming. Being charming is like work.”
The redhead was content to sit in silence herself. Well. sort of. she hummed. Even wiggled her butt a little. There was rarely a moment when she sat in total silence or total stillness. That much awesome needed an outlet. When Frankie began to speak again, Rylee lifted her arm from her eyes to look at the other woman. “I think Kingsley keeps his people happy. I don’t know about fair... I think he can be a hardass, unbending even. But it does him no good to have a bunch of people here who hate his guts working for him.” she shrugged then. “I guess that’s fair. But I don’t know that you could count on him to be compassionate. I mean, that’s what they say, right? Justice tempered with compassion.”
Rylee was quiet again for a moment. “You know, it doesn’t make him a bad person, I guess. He’s just... impartial.” Because, honestly, the redhead actually liked the Director. He knew when to put up with her bullshit, and when to tell her to cut the shit. she liked that. Not everyone knew how to walk that line with her. But, she was willing to bet the man could be ruthless and even cruel. It was a strange thing to contemplate, the dichotomy.
***
Frankie sighed long and exhaustively and moved to lie down on her stomach, because her wings wouldn’t tolerate being smooshed against the wood planks. “I don’t know what to think. Actually, I think I’m just tired of thinking. And planning. I want to trying living in the moment, no consideration for the past or future. The past has too many bad things in it, so why dwell? And the future... well... you could drive yourself mad wondering what’s next. Now is good. I’m happy right now. I’m surrounded by friends, have a handsome man who makes me smile, and I’m learning something new every day.” Frankie still felt like she’d made the right choice with her life, even if nearly everyone around her felt it was a mistake.
---
“so don’t think. Live in the moment. I do. Who cares about what happened in the past? Get over it, fix it, or move on. And why bother planning? Tomorrow we could all be dead. Or working for a covert agency,” she said with a little smirk. Because that hadn’t been in her plans at all. “Do what makes sense right now and if shit changes, change with it.”
As for whether Frankie had made a mistake or not, Rylee didn’t judge. Maybe the Fire sprite seemed to be a little too sweet for this kind of life, but who would have thought that Rylee was the kind of person to go in for a life of taking orders? Frankie had a reason for being here, and she was working hard to make it to being an agent. Kingsley had a good opinion of her ability, though that was just a kind of bonus. Rylee didn’t need validation for Frankie’s choice. It was her choice.
***
Frankie laughed at Rylee’s little joke. “Good point.” None of this had been in Frankie’s plans either. She’d hoped to be a Harvard grad, traveling the world as a journalist or biographer, and married with a few kids by now. Frankie’s life had definitely taken a wrong turn at some point. No question about it! Well, maybe not a wrong turn, but a left at some point where she maybe was supposed to go right.
In all honesty, Frankie hadn’t made this decision because of the job. At least not entirely. Sure, she did like the idea of learning so much, getting paid so much, and eventually being a rich woman who set about on global adventures. It was all very appealing. The life of a secret agent was made oh so glamorous by Hollywood. But Lucas had factored into the decision. More than she was willing to admit. Her friends did too, and she liked that she was able to see them so often again. This place felt like home far more than that diner in Chicago ever had. She was learning all sorts of incredible things now, and she could be herself here. There was no need to live in secret. Frankie loved her family deeply, but being sheltered hadn’t served her well.
---
Rylee continued to smirk when Frankie laughed, pleased with herself for entertaining her friend. For a while, she was content to lie there and enjoy the way the heat relaxed her body. But after a while, the heat got to be oppressive. Unlike Frankie, hot was not a natural state for her. Well. Maybe in the metaphorical sense.
“You feeling better?” she asked. Because if she was, it was time to head elsewhere for the second part of this girls night in.
***
“Hmm?” Frankie replied in a drowsy state. The heat felt so good, it was putting her to sleep. She roused at her friend’s question. “Oh, yeah. Much.” She sighed and stretched her arms and legs then rolled onto her side. Rylee looked flushed. It was too hot in here for her. “You’ve been in here too long though.” Frankie could tell, and she didn’t want to put her friend’s health in danger. “If you want to get in the pool to cool off, I’ll sit along the side and keep you company. Just don’t splash me,” she said with a smile.
---
Rylee stretched, too. “Yeah. A little.” she tilted her head at the question. she hadn’t thought of that. Good idea. Also, she hadn’t brought a swimsuit. Not like a bikini was any different from a bra and panties though. “Pfft,” Rylee said. “I’d never splash you. I’m graceful as a mermaid,” she added with an affected accent.
The redhead made her way out of the sauna and pulled on her undergarments. Then, checking to see that no one else was in the pool area, went in and dumped her clothing and a towel on a bench. What? some people might take offense. Though why, she’d never understand. Just too much awesome to handle. Whoever was watching the security feed was probably enjoying it, however.
slowly, she made her way into the water. Even if the pool was heated, a drastic change in temperature could make her lightheaded or even faint, and Rylee didn’t want to put Frankie in that position of trying to figure out how to save her ass. Also, wouldn’t that impress Kingsley? Trainee goes on missions successfully, but nearly drowns in the swimming pool. Ugh.
***
Frankie didn't bother putting her clothes back on. The towel covered her well enough, and given the nature of living here in such close quarters, she was used to a lot of her skin being exposed. Frankie had spent much of her life hiding her body because if her wings. Now there was no need.
She found a spot beside the pool that was close enough to chat with Rylee, but far enough to be comfortable. Water made her nervous. She could tolerate extremely hot water, if it was close to steam and boiling, but it still weakened her. Being touched by the water elemental though, his hand transforming to such cold and pure water, that was dangerous.
"Do you think there's anything special planned for the Fourth of July?" She asked. Lucas would no doubt have plans, what with it being his sister's birthday. She was happy to help him, because when she held him, giving off heat, he was able to produce far more powerful light shows.
---
“Well, I don’t think there’s anything official planned... but I have my own fireworks display ready to go. Extra credit,” she added with a grin. Which meant, of course, no one had approved anything about it. Rylee just wanted to show off. Oh, and cause a general commotion. The redhead wasn’t an idiot, though. she was confident enough in her ability that she wouldn’t hurt anyone. And she wasn’t going to set it off in the middle of a crowded area. Over water and so on. But, boy, it should certainly startle enough people.
***
Frankie rolled her eyes. “I swear.. you’re on a mission to get your brain scrambled and your ass tossed out of here. You do recall that becoming a recruit was an optional thing, right? You didn’t have to agree to the program. You could have left.” But she’d accepted, and most of the time she seemed to enjoy the training. So why was Rylee still so hell-bent on causing trouble?
“Lucas will probably do the norm... a light show for his sister. It’s Ash’s birthday on the fourth, so he always does something special for her. I help, because his creations are stronger when he’s warm.”
---
“What’s the Fourth without fireworks? If they gave me fireworks, I wouldn’t have to go make my own,” Rylee explained as if it were that simple and logical. “And, yeah, I totally chose to be here. I like it here. But do I really seem like the kind of person to just march to orders? They knew what kind of person they were recruiting as much as I knew that I was going to give things up to be here. And you know what? I bet some of what makes me a good recruit, and a good agent someday, is the fact that I push the envelope.” Rylee lay back in the water then, hands behind her head, like she was totally at ease with all of that. she was.
“That’s pretty cool. Does he do it to music or something?”
***
“Or, I don’t know... it might be the sort of shit that gets you kicked out before you can even become an agent. Or if you last that long, you might die early. Come off it, Ry... one day you have to stop with the pranks and troublemaking just for the hell of it.” Frankie didn’t want her friend getting in trouble or hurt.
“No, just the lights. It’s beautiful. Doesn’t need music. Though sometimes I sing or hum when he does it, because it’s so lovely.” She looked all dreamy eyed talking about him. It was clear that Frankie was smitten. If Kim were present, she’d glare or complain that Frankie was letting herself get sucked in again and that it would only lead to pain later.
---
Rylee shrugged. she wasn’t going to change. Well, maybe a little. she had fought a lot in high school. Even did all the work she couldn’t make up when she got suspended, just so she could ace the tests. she didn’t fight anymore because she had two strikes, but she couldn’t just tow the line all the time. It wasn’t in her nature. “I don’t know where it’s written that I have to,” she tossed back. “I mean, really, who says I have to?” No one.
The redhead actually gagged a little, though she made a good effort to hide it. “You... are disgusting. I don’t think I could hang out with you and Lucas. I’d probably cut off my own head. Or beat myself unconscious. Not that I’m not happy for you, but all this butterflies and unicorn level rainbow happiness just does not work for me. But you keep on with it.” And Rylee did mean it. If it made Frankie happy, fine. But the fiery recruit wanted no part of it.
***
“Actually, there are very specific rules here. And, yeah, they’re written down,” Frankie pointed out. Was Ry smoking crack? Maybe she was suffering from heat exhaustion. They’d been in the sauna for a long time.
Frankie pouted a little and looked down at her flip flops on the hard floor. “I can’t help it. I love him,” she mumbled. She hadn’t told Lucas. He had to know, of course, but she refused to say the words to him. He’d just get all weird and remind her of how he wasn’t looking for a ‘relationship’ and that loving him wasn’t a good idea or whatever. Frankie didn’t understand. She wanted to. She wanted to be the sort of woman who could just have fun, casual sex with a good friend and never get super attached. But she wasn’t built that way. She craved LOVE!
---
“Precisely. Very specific rules. If I get to three, I’m out. I haven’t gotten to three yet,” she insisted in what was practically a singsong tone. And no, Rylee didn’t smoke anything. she got the point that they were in training and doing stuff that hurt your body was counterproductive. But geez, a little alcohol on the weekends wouldn’t hurt anyone’s game!
Rylee smiled a little when Frankie began to pout. she wasn’t laughing at her or anything - it was out of fondness. The Fire sprite was just too sweet to be real. “You don’t have to apologize, Frankie. You and I are built differently. so what? I reserve my right as a friend to rag on you a little about it. That’s all,” she said in a less prickly kind of tone.