12243/So you say it's your birthday

So you say it's your birthday
Date of Scene:	01 August 2022
Location:	Rock Wallz Gym
Synopsis:	It becomes evident that Silver Sable has a birthday.
Cast of Characters:	Silver Sablinova, Alexander Aaron

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Silver Sablinova has posed:
Today her schedule was mostly clear. It was for the best. Otherwise, she might very well have some sort of fit and go on a murderous rampage around the office. Not literally. Violence might happen but not actually killing them. Then she would have to pay death benefits. Run background checks on new employees. Hiring process. Just too much paperwork involved.

But having that time free allowed her to meet with Alexander for a bit of time. They had been trying to do so when their schedules allowed. Today, they had agreed to meet at the gym. But not her gym back at SSI. She didn't want to be within one hundred feet of that building. The fact it currently shared space with the Symkarian Embassy, until she found a good office space here in New York City, just would've made it worse.

She was dressed as befit someone at a gym, though in her usual white. A pair of shorts that were form fitting, a tank top. Trainers on her feet although she would be trading those out for climbing shoes when she hit the rock wall soon. She was just finishing her warm up on the treadmill and stepped off to the side as she shut down the machine.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There are some who have seen Alexander before in the gym. From afar at times, sometimes with a few friends, sometimes alone. Usually he kept to himself, though the juice bar drew his attention each time before he wandered off. Most of his time was spent on the Ninja Obstacle course since this was the only full scale one in all of New York. They even updated it for each new season!
    Though today, for once, he just seemed to be enjoying spending time with the woman in white. She had started on the treadmill, which had him taking up a spot on the one beside her. The stead whir-whir-whir along with their striding steps created a lovely rhythm to be shared even though occasionally they would glance over and sometimes one or the other would push the speed up higher, change the angle, make it more severe. A steady series of escalations until they both were running at a good clip together...
    Until he laughed and was the first to tap out, thumping a hand on the mercy button and bringing the run routine to a close. When it sped down enough he had hopped off the end and grabbed the towel from the nearby bench, wiping at his brow with it as he walked along near her once she got off as well.
    What next?"

Silver Sablinova has posed:
Moving to the bench, she picked up her own towel and wiped off her brow. It revealed her phone which had been underneath. Because, though she was working out, she did have her phone in case there was an emergency at work. Since something happening there would literally be life and death. So she never allowed herself to be fully out of contact.

Even when she wanted to be.

"I was thinking about the rock wall. Seeing how hard they actually are. Though you mentioned you like the obstacle course. I'm up for either. Though I do need to get my rocking climbing shoes if we are going that way. Give me a minute to go grab them from my locker?"

She took the towel with her, wrapping it around her neck and heading off toward the women's changing room.

Her phone buzzed again. And again.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As for Alexander he is wearing more clothes that seem like they would be fitting for a basketball player. Sneakers on his feet, a pair of sweat shorts in the color of grey, and a black t-shirt that hung loose over his broad chest. His own gear was left in a backpack beside his towel though he did eye that phone once Silver had wandered off.
    As he continued to wipe himself down he would eyeball the cell. Just now and again a glance. It wasn't uncommon for the thing to vibrate whenever he was around. Silvija dealt with a lot of work issues for the company as well as the embassy. But after it buzzed for the fourth time... he started to get antsy.
    Since if there were a good number of people trying to get a hold of her, then likely it was a big deal...
    Assuredly she'd be back out soon, though.
    Then it buzzed another few more times with left him frowning. A glance is given to the women's locker room. Not exactly a place he could go into... though... he could stick his head in and shout. But... that might embarrass her.
    And he could get thrown out. Which would mean no more ninja course.
    The young Olympian frowned as /again/ the phone buzzed. He looked again.
    Maybe a quick glance at the messages on the screen. No delving. And if it's serious enough... well he could risk it. She'd appreciate any heads up... right.
    For a good three minutes he stood there as the phone gave a few more buzzes. It was the twelfth one that did him in. A few steps and he scooped up the phone, brushing a thumb over its surface long enough to see he first few messages and...
    Oh.
    Oh!
    A wry smile flickered over his lips as he tilted his head to the side. Alright not a big enough deal to interrupt but...
    The God of Fear stood there half-smiling and then set her phone down back where it was precisely. He proceeded to wait.
    And when she emerged...
    "So. Let's talk about birthdays."

Silver Sablinova has posed:
It was a few minutes before she made it out. Not due to any choice of her own. There were a few people changing in front of her locker. She could have just demanded they move but she was feeling rather mellow today. So instead she had run off to the restroom. Once business was done and hands were washed, she found the people had moved on and she had access to her locker again.

Pulling out her rock climbing shoes, she then slammed it shut and snapped the combination lock closed once more. Before heading back out to join Alexander.

She picked up her phone, sliding a thumb over it to make sure none of the messages were from one of two people she would care about a message from right now. That being her assistant or Frenchy who was running an op. Nothing from either but she didn't let go of the phone since she wasn't sure what their destination would be yet.

Then he said those words. Silver frowned, looking at the phone. It was locked but she had it setup to show a preview of text messages and subject lines from emails. Since it was rarely out of her reach, it wasn't an issue. Usually.

"Still pushing to get spoiled on yours?" she asked, hoping that was what it was about but knowing better.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The way he tilted his head to the side, just a slight subtle tilt that likely let her know all she needed to. He had taken a glance and saw those messages. How terribly rude, but then he defends himself by saying, "To be fair, it buzzed twelve times. I thought perhaps here had been an incident and I should tell you as soon as possible."
    A look at the phone as he walked to the edge of that benchseat, taking up his pack as they're likely to move to another location. "Little did I know." He says, but needs say no more. Smiling a little he looks away, then back.
    "If you don't want to do anything, I understand. It's always a little... strange. When you start seeing someone and in the early days a major holiday or family thing falls on it. Do you invite the person, do you not? Does it represent escalation you're not ready for. What's the right gift? It's all a mess."
    Then he steps closer and smiles, "Still." And that's the moment he lifts a hand to gently brush fingertips through her hair before he leans closer still. Lips find like, eyes close. A lovely kiss, chaste compared to some they'd shared, but for one given in public it was as good as a whispered promise and a look from those bedroom eyes. Just long enough for shared breath, the slightest further touch, a hand gently holding hers...
    Then back as he murmurs, "Happy birthday, Miss Sablinova."

Silver Sablinova has posed:
While the kiss was lovely and reciprocated, as they parted a bit and he held her hand, she made quite the face. "It is just another day. I do not understand why people make such an issue. My office will be covered with gifts. Family. Clients. Just people from Symkaria who wish to celebrate me getting a day older when they should be using their money for more important things."

And that might let him know she had hadn't failed to share due to some uncomfortable feeling about dating someone new when an occasion came around. It was more that she didn't see it as anything.

"It is why my schedule is so light today. I have no desire to go there and face that. Not to mention the people working will continue the well wishes." Then she gave him a soft smile. "Thank you for the well wishes but honestly, it is just a day."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "You fail to see the bigger picture," Alexander says as he starts to walk toward the rock wall, figuring she would wish to continue the work out. He slings his backpack over his shoulder as he strolls, his off hand holding his towel. "It's an excuse for people in your life to be able to do something nice for you if they wish. Everyone knows it's just another day, but there are few enough times people get to reflect on how they value people in their lives."
    A small shrug is given, then he smiles a little wryly, "If you truly prefer to do nothing, though. Just consider the smooch your gift. Since mine are so amazing." He says that last with that same even tone, though she knows his sense of humor by now well enough to read it.
    "Still, we could go out to dinner if you like..."
    A pause, "Or I could actually cook."

Silver Sablinova has posed:
That earned a fresh wrinkling of her nose as she followed their trail toward the glassed off area housing the rock wall. Letting him know that she wasn't at all about people reflecting on how much they valued her either. She simply didn't know how to deal with it all. It was easier for her to keep it as 'just a thing' than to confront feelings and emotions and everything that came with it.

"Wall for a bit then ninja track? I am curious if you are any good. Though I am not familiar with the challenges, it may be interesting to try." Just to be certain they didn't neglect what he had stated was something he enjoyed here.

At mention of dinner, she did consider a moment. Until he added the cooking part. Then there was a bit of a smirk. "You could cook. But should you?" was the question she posed. "After all, keeping one's self alive differs from a guest. Particularly on her birthday." Yes, she was throwing that down since he was the one who had brought it up.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I have about six dishes that I make which I am told are good." Alexander offers up on the platter of birthday celebration. He strolls along with a hand in his pocket and his head tilting sidelong toward her. "Though, to be entirely honest, I was told that by people who had a vested interest in keeping my esteem. Still, I like to think my cooking skills aren't /that/ bad."
    With that said he reaches the harder difficulty side of the wall with its white, black, and grey handholds. He leans with one hand against the plastic siding and tilts his head back to her, "Though we could make an evening of it. Go to the open market before it closes, pick up some ingredients, stop at the butcher, then head home. You can then hassle me while I cook as you find something for us to listen to while we dine."
    His head lifts, "And perhaps a bottle of wine for the occasion?"
    As he says that last he drops his pack and towel, then plants a foot in one of the first grips and immediately starts to climb, reaching up and grabbing the next near invisible hand hold and pushing on.

Silver Sablinova has posed:
There was plenty of cushiony mats at the base of the walls, allowing for a soft fall. There were also harnesses and safety lines available though few at this level bothered with them. It was sort of a pride thing not to bother. Even if they probably should.

"Open market?" She said the words as though they were foreign. Of course she knew what one was but when was the last time she went to one? She tried to think back, brow furrowed slightly as she went back through the years. There was an assignment once but that didn't count as she had to focus on potential threats to her protectee, not actually explore the wares.

Before that was way back in childhood. Would she even like it? She had no idea. "Certainly. Market. Then to your place. I can call the office. I am certain there have been multiple bottles of wine delivered there. I can have them sent over to your place to have tonight?" Rather than buy more on their own since it was unnecessary. Wine was one of the few little things she would enjoy, in moderation of course.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As he ascended he called back down toward her, "There's one off Greenwich outside that shopping area. Like a grocery store but outside." His lip twists a little, amused as he makes light, then grunts as he makes a leap for a further handhold, snaring it and swinging from one hand for a few moments before solidifying his place on the wall.
    "And sure, could have all your presents sent over and we could open them and I can live vicariously through you." He grunts again as he hefts and continues to climb, making good time so far.
    It doesn't take too long for him to reach the midway point, slapping the timer up there so it registers on the large electronic board. Then he proceeds on the next leg upward, sneakers squeaking a little as he catches one of the grips and pushes on it.

Silver Sablinova has posed:
The timers were something she was not used to. For her it was just the climb. But her competitive nature could see why they existed. Of course, they could cheer on their fellow climbers, urging them to the top and not to give up, but at the same time they might be thinking they could get up there faster. Course, that is what everyone thought until actually presented with the challenge of a wall like this.

She watched as he started the second part, eyes scanning the various holds, considering. "Not all the presents. That would be horrible. It is generally easy to tell a bag with a bottle of wine though. Unless you want some of the presents?" Since many times, they weren't things she necessarily wanted or kept. It was often some of the things from the Symkarian people that might find a place in her home while most of the more expensive things might be regifted, put into a museum if of that sort of quality, or auctioned off for charity. Though the exceptions might be antique weapons though few ever actually got those for her.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I just like opening them, don't you?" Alexander has to /swing/ his legs back and forth until he's able to build enough momentum to make that leap across the way and then he's scrambling up toward the last quarter of the climb, having to raise his voice now as he ascends.
    "Not knowing what it is, curious to see what people think of you, how well they know you?" He grins to himself as he slips a hand over the side and /pulls/ himself up. Then he gets to his feet and walks the few steps over to slap the timer button which cuts the timer off and leaves it there with the final results blinking. A new record for the day since they clear it off each closing time.
    "I am usually pretty good at giving presents." Though for some reason that makes him frown a little as his thoughts wander, then he shakes them clear and yells down, "You coming up?"

Silver Sablinova has posed:
"I wanted you to have a moment to bask in your happiness before I beat your record," Silver offered by way of explanation as she grinned up at him. She tucked her phone into the edge of his backpack, ignoring the buzzing that had continued during their conversation. Then she laid her towel next to it before moving to the base of the wall. She eyed it critically. A touch and the timer was started as she find her first handhold and began to make her ascent.

"If it excites you that much, I will have them all sent over. To be honest, most people who send me presents do not know me well." She quickly was working her way along but paused as she lost sight of the next hold. Then she found it and realized it was a bit of a stretch for someone of her height. "There are the rarities but I find even my family has no idea many times."

She got her feet placed just right then leapt for that handhold, catching it and swinging herself back over to find another spot for her foot pretty quickly. Then back upwards.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The way she said those words with that accent, it just makes him smile for some reason as he bites his lower lip. Perhaps even shakes his head a little and leans against the railing up there on the top rocky area. "For a gal all the way down there you sure talk a big game."
    Yet he has no doubt she'll likely be on her way and joining him in almost no time.
    "Well with you I imagine..." He leans over and keeps his voice somewhat raised, though with the plastic wall between them and the public it isn't likely they're overheard. "It's difficult, since you have everything you might want."
    For a time he leans there looking down and says, "You know you could get one of these for your operatives. But I figure you'd want it rigged to have live fire going while people tried to climb." His grin is a wry one, though he fully expects... he might well be right.

Silver Sablinova has posed:
"We have one. Back home." In Symkaria. "When I find a good building here in New York, we will renovate. Though the wall is better outdoors due to the explosives."

Another leap to a handhold and she reaches that halfway point. A fraction of a second ahead of his time. But this is where the wall got more difficult. The reaches were even further apart and her height was doing her no favors. She didn't have his wingspan. Thus it required more leaps and tricky moves, things that could go wrong if one were not careful.

"If you ever come to Symkaria, I will show it to you. Or once we have one built here. Perhaps I should consider property outside the city limits for the training facility," she pondered.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I've never been." Alexander says as he stays up there, and when she gets close enough he knows her well enough not to offer a hand since she seemed to be the sort that would want to make it on her own merit. Though he does stay close enough... just in case.
    "You should tell me about it. The Symkaria you know I mean. It's different for everyone I imagine. But yours must be unique. Like... what's your favorite food there?"
    And by that time she's likely to the top and he steps back and out of the way, "Favorite dessert? Place to go to read?" Then his lips twist up, "Favorite place to sneak away for a swim? All of those things."

Silver Sablinova has posed:
"Read? I rarely have time for that anymore. Though there was a small lake I used to visit with my Papa. Sometimes we would sit on the bank and he would read to me. Other times I would swim. I have not visited there for many years," Silver admitted.

She was almost there. Just a few more holds. But that final was much further away from the rest. She gauged her space. "My favorite food is Adjarian khachapuri. It is popular in Georgia as well but Symkarian is far superior. We make better cheeses than they could hope," she added.

Then she began to swing herself from side to side, using just her arms. Building up that momentum with each shift the opposite direction. Then she leapt--and knew she she was going to make it. Only, she slightly overshot and she made that grab only to feel her fingers sliding off. She used her other hand to reach for another handhold, knowing it would ruin her run but at least she wouldn't hit the padded floor below. Only to catch hold of a wrist instead.

She glanced up to find he had reached down to try to help. His hand to her wrist, hers to his. She had to give him a faint smile as she knew he had saved her run even as he pulled her up to the top. There she pushed that button which was now well after his record set.

"Thank you."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Taking her into his arms, Alexander smiles a little. Just a soft gentle thing as those pale hazel eyes drifted back and forth between her irises, as if seeking what she might be thinking behind her own blues. He touched the tip of his nose to hers and says, "My pleasure, Miss Sablinova."
    There's a warmth to him, a lovely heat, and he has that scent of effort, exertion, and masculinity. Another small kiss touches the corner of her mouth and then he adds, "That'll be thirty thousand Symkaribucks."