17816/Ask for the moon

Ask for the moon
Date of Scene:	30 April 2024
Location:	Workout Room
Synopsis:	In which AJ pesters Bishop to train him to be a hero.
Cast of Characters:	Allen-James, Bishop

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Allen-James has posed:
    AJ has been working out a lot lately. Like, a lot a lot. Also, taking a lot of exams for high school equivalency tests, and studying for taking tests for college courses, trying to catch up with where he should be, academically. But a lot of his free time has been working out, either here in the workout room, or hurling himself out over the pool with his attempts to get better at moving faster with his force shields. As yet, that little trick has been evading him, and he doesn't feel like freezing (again) today, so instead, he's in the workout room.

    His ever present hoodie is off, and he's in a tank top, which shows off just how skinny and twiglike he is, as he huffs and puffs at a workout machine, doing rows with the rowing machine since that's mostly legs, and a little arms.

Bishop has posed:
By contrast, when Bishop arrives, you might as well compare a sapling to a full grown oak tree of a few hundred years old. Six foot six and nearly three hundred pounds, the X.S.E. officer turned X-Man, is pretty much a full on off season professional bodybuilder from the way his physique feels out his Xavier's-Institute tank top and training shorts but to his credit his movements lack any sort of 'gym bro' swagger...but instead seem more like a tank with legs on the prowl. So not exactly lacking for intimidation.

Yet there is some signs of aches and pains as he makes his way in as well as the sight of some bruises that have not fully healed yet. Given who he is, there must have been some serious mess that he was involved in. Terrorists, Sentinels or...maybe just particularly wild students. Who knows.

"AJ." he rumbles by way of greeting, deep voice stoic but not stern as he pulls the towel from around his neck and studies the young mutant."

"Don't start over working yourself trying to play catch up. It can be very easy ot injure yourself in here if you're not careful."

Allen-James has posed:
    AJ, his short self, snorts slightly as the greek god of time travelers tells him to not overwork himself. "Hello, Bishop." He says, his tone respectful, but slightly resigned. "Everyone keeps telling me to relax, and take my time, but..." He motions at Bishop.
    "What got you?" he wonders, curiously, as he shifts in the seat of the rowing machine, and goes back to his slow pulls, trying to maintain his form. "I keep having things blow up around me. If it's not the zoo getting raided, it's a bank getting its door ripped off. I've got a power that lets me protect people, but that's not much use if I can't get to where I need to be, or do anything about an attacker, is it? My defense is great, if everyone's polite enough to attack me with things less destructive than bullets. I can't afford to sit around and take my time." he says, his voice edging towards frustrated.

Bishop has posed:
At the gesture to his own body, Bishop looks confused at first but then seems to finally get it and he offers a slightly apologetic smile as he takes a set onto one of the heavier duty pec deck machines though it seems like it's just to sit for a moment as he leans forward and rests a heavy elbow against an outstretched knee,

"It's just important to be realistic and to build. You can't force it. Everything takes time and training and a gradual escalation in order to strengthen. I realize that it might seem frustrating especially with so many around here who seem in top shape but keep in mind they've been training for a very long time. A lifetime for a few."

He spares AJ any discussions of the physical rigors of his own youth or the harshness of XSE training, though his mind does drift there as he considers the youth. "What got me?" he finally addresses. After another pause he says, " Classified. If I told you, I might have to make you disappear."

Was that an attempt at a joke? Hopefully...

Allen-James has posed:
    "I trained for a very long time. You know I was the under twelve Connecticut Fencing Champion?" AJ points out with a dark laugh. "I used to be able to do this stuff." he waves around. "I was faster, stronger... better than what I am now. I need to get it back. Course, what I really need is.. you know.. training.

    "I'm not always going to have people around to take care of things for me. I need... I need some offense. I want to get back into fencing and HEMA." AJ says, and sighs. He stops fowing, and stands up, moving to lean against a wall.

    "But realistically... I should probably just learn to shoot things. You've got those laser blasters. If I have to face Sentinels or something, I'm going to need more firepower than a sword. I couldn't even hit anything in that simulation down in the danger room. You could set up more training like that for me.."

Bishop has posed:
AJ's words cause the X.S.E. officer to pause his fiddling with the weight settings on the workout machine. Bishop's eyes narrow slightly and he simply listens but says nothing, allowing AJ to speak his mind and vent his concerns and frustrations.

After a heavy beat, BIshop looks over towards him, "Ideally soeone like you should never have to worry about a Sentinel and leave that to myself and others but given the attack in Mutant Town and the Starport incident...I guess we're not in an ideal scenario..."

He leans forward abit, resting his large arms onto his legs once more as he folds his hands, "I can understand wanting to learn self defense. Hell, many people do good with some basic firearm training... And if you trained in fencing, as you said, then that'll come back to you reallyq quickly. You may just need some specialized tutoring and training there."

He shrugs his large shoulders, seemingly working through this himself as well. " Plus, as you grow in your powers and get training in that...you'll find all sorts of ways to use them. Just remember, there's a difference between learning basic self defense and mastering your powers and wanting to do what I do. You're still a civilian, AJ. Don't measure yourself up against the wrong standards."

Allen-James has posed:
    "I'd say we're pretty far from ideal situations." AJ agrees with a snort, as he moves to set up a weight bench for some arm work with some very light looking weights.

    AJ listens as he sets up the weights, and sits, moving to start doing arm exercises with a whopping ten pound barbell. See the strength, folks. He frowns as he's told he's a civilian. That's true, sort of but...

    "I thought you guys took me because I was trying to be a hero. I mean, I know I'm not yet, but..." he waves his hand, "I helped at the zoo. Less at the bank and all, but that one I was actually trying to stay out of. And that lady had them handled. I just used my shields to keep a blast from..." he shakes his head, "That's not important. Look. If I wanted to use my powers for self defense, I could learn to do that on the streets. And while I love the food here, I didn't come here to be 'just a civilian'. I came here to learn to be a hero. That's what you do, right? Save people, protect people. I want to be able to stop people looking to hurt other people. I want to stop Sentinels from wrecking places, and show people that Mutants can /protect them/ not just be scary threats who stomp through and have battles." He rants for a while, as he struggles to maintain good form through curls with 10 pound weights.

Bishop has posed:
Bishop lets out a rumbling grunt. The sound reverbrates through the air lnot unlke that of a grizzly bear being poked one too many times by an overly eager cub. He pushes up slightly, leaning back abit and then folds his arms, causing his torso to swell from the shifting around of his heavy sinew. His expression is stoic -and- stern now but he says nothing and just listens and processes.

After another pause he confirms, "The Institute exists to help young mutants with their powers, provide a safe space for those in need and offer education to mutants who can't find that help out in the wider world. Yes. This is not a superhero training camp. What you're wanting and asking is noble but there's a difference between wanting to get better at defnding yourself and then looking up and Juggernaut's fist is coming for your face or Sabretooth's claws for your gut. I hear you, AJ, but I want to be absolutely clear you undrestand what you're asking. Now if you want to get better with your powers and be ready to do some good out there, I can get behind that...just dont' be so eager to run out into the fring line."

He stands up slowly now, walking closer towards the younger mutant, "You asked what happened? II was at ground zero when a seven hundred pound sumo mutant dropped onto a stage from twenty feet up and kicked off a venue shaking shockwave and then proceeded to try and kill me and several humans..."

He lets that hang in the air but then says, "...But I'm not going to tell you 'no' either. Anybody who puts in the work can get out there and do some good. If you're -serious- about it...we can see what we can do one step at a time."

Allen-James has posed:
    AJ frowns, listening with a serious expression as he changes hands, and keeps working on his arms. He's got a thoughtful expression on his face, as he considers.. What would he do if Cain attacked him? Sure, the guy was pretty chill, but Bishop seemed pretty tense around him at the time, so surely they've fought before...

    The story of the fight makes AJ pause in his workout, biting his lip, and setting his weight down. He looks up at Bishop.

    "I'm serious. I don't want to just be a 'civilian'. I got this power saving myself and others from a car wreck. I hid it for a long time. Sometimes I wished I didn't have it at all. But I'm tired of that. Tired of being afraid. If saving people means I have to learn to deal with unstoppable forces, unbreakable claws, or seven hundred pounds of sumo.... Well, that's what I'm asking for training for. I'm not good enough yet. Hell, I can't even fight like I used to yet, much less against all that. But I want to. I want to get better. I want to protect people. If I'm going to start owning these powers, then isn't that what they're good for?" he says with a pleading look on his face.

    "Look. I'm doing the work. I'm willing to put in the effort. I don't expect to bust Sentinels tomorrow or anything. I know what it takes to be good at anything like this. I am willing to take the time, and put in the work. But I need someone to help me. To train me."

Bishop has posed:
Again that long silence as Bishop watches AJ and studies his use of the equipment as well as the determination that is writ clear on his face.

How could he refuse?

"Very well.." he finally concludes though there is the vaguest hint of a warning in his tone. A reminder that it will be tough, rigorous, and perhaps ever nigh overwhelming...but...he seems to have an understanding here.

"I was on that mission with two not much younger then you. Others your age who are dedicated and also are willing and ready to fight. If you're willing to put the work in then....I will help you... Just get ready. My brand of training can be..rigorous."

He returns to the weights he was working with before and begins setting them towards their maximum levels.

"I'll see about arranging someone skilled in swordsmanship to help you with your fencing. You're going to need to adjust your diet as well towards building your size up. I have a feeling that your powers might also be linked to your physical capabilities as well. Many mutants are like that. The better condition your'e in, the stronger your powers will become. That's why so many of us train so consistently. THe first step is to get you -capable- of handling my regime and then getting you on that regime. Understood?"

Allen-James has posed:
    Allen-James smiles again, nodding and chuckling. "Way ahead of you there. I mentioned I like the food here. I've been trying to ramp up on the protein, and all. I know I'm built like a wicker stick figure and all," he admits, as he goes back to pumping the weights. "But I didn't know it might give my powers a boost. That's worth working towards too."

    He works carefully, trying not to overwork his arms, switching between them, and doing sets long enough to work his arms, but not long enough to wreck them.

    "I appreciate it. Thank you, sir." he says softly after a few rotations through his current weight regime.