2382/Distractions

Distractions
Date of Scene:	08 July 2020
Location:	Grant's Gym - Amusement Mile
Synopsis:	Alexander and Blink meet and talk about what has passed. Also punching.
Cast of Characters:	Clarice Ferguson, Alexander Aaron

---

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
Last few days haven't exactly been the best for those categorized as mutant. First the attack on mutant town and it's disappearance, learning that some extraterrestrial entity was behind it all by the name of Brainiac and that he wanted to take over the world. The only good thing appeared to be that not all people that were presumed dead from Genosha and Mutant town had been lost. They were alive, even if held captive, and with many having already been turned into cyborgs working for Brainiac.

That did give Clarice a new purpose though. She was ready to fight. Well, she always was, but this time it was different...

So one would find her out at Grant's today, dressed in training shorts and shirt, hands wrapped in linen bands and she delivering some power punches at a bag. No supernatural strength there but she was putting the effort behind those!

Sweat was dripping down the side of her forehead as she kept at it, moving from straight punches to combinations.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    With everything that had passed, with all of the stress and danger of the times, it was difficult for them. And for Clarice it was likely all the harder. Though Alexander had no idea exactly how invested she was in the cause, he knew it was a focal point for her, a strong aspect of life that gave her guidance and a purpose. So when Bushwick suffered, she suffered.
    At times he would reach out, a few words sent, or just a way to touch base to let her know he was there. Though with the way the world weighed on one's shoulders these days, he likely wasn't expecting any answer. Though when he did, the cellphone illuminating with a time and a place, he answered quickly that he'd be there and set to.
    Only for him to arrive at Grant's Gym with little fanfare, slipping through the wooden door, the bell jangling as he passed through. Not a lot of people, perhaps the wrong time of day for it, or perhaps with the wildness of the times not a lot of people going out and about to train or exercise. Whatever the reason there were only a few people who turned and glanced at the blond youth as he emerged from the doorway.
    For a moment he pauses there, backpack over his shoulder. He'd be as she remembered him with that shock of blond hair, the pale hazel eyes. A reddish/copper t-shirt covered his chest today, and loose grey sweat shorts his legs. White gym sneakers cover his feet as he walks further into the room, the espies her. Quietly he approaches, stepping around the blue mats upon the floor, past the weight benches. A small smile touches his lips when he enters her line of vision as he moves up to touch a hand to that heavy bag to brace it for her as he can. "Hey."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
"Took you a while." Is what Blink says first. Because for someone that teleports the time taken in travelling is very much forgotten to her. Expression was one of concentration though, delivering 'pain' upon the bag, shifting stance from time to time and letting her punching victim know who was the boss here today.

The unnatural green gaze does fleet towards Alexander when he moves around to hold the bag though and she smiles faintly in return. A tight smile but there nonetheless. "How have you been?" She asks, pausing to run her hands up on her hair. It was held up in a warrior's knot today, keeping it out of her face.

"Sorry I haven't called but .., I am sure you have seen the news."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "What can I say? I'm super slow." Alexander says as he rests that hand upon the bag, smiling a little at her but gently so. Not overly happy, glad to see her assuredly, but somber. He holds the bag steady for her to get into a good rhythm but then eases up as she drops the stance.
    "I've been ok, hunkered down trying to do my own thing as I can." Which isn't a lot all told. "It's been crazy, and I can only imagine what you've been dealing with." Since in some ways there hasn't been a lot of visibility from a boots on the ground perspective.
    "And yeah, hey, don't worry. I figured you were very busy." He lets his gaze lift to her gleaming eyes, then to her hands, perhaps making sure the wraps are good and tight, that she isn't pushing herself too much. Hurting herself.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
It didn't really seem like it was the first time Blink was up and doing this kind of training. The bandages seemed well applied, and her style wasn't exactly that of a novice. In fact not a novice at all. Though she dips her head in understanding. "Not easy. But it's time to pick up arms and fight so.., here I am." a gesture around the gym. "Or well, in this case pick up a bit more muscle."

She delivers a final kick to the center of that punching bag and then steps back, arms folding together. "Thought I'd see about looking at those moves of yours I took a glimpse on back at ESU." she says, but then the side of her mouth curling up in a faint smirk. "And also, was needing a training partner. One that doesn't fall at the first punch."

Though she still had to find how good exactly Alexander was. Hopefully enough to last a round or two!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Lips parting in a small 'ohhh' of understanding, Alexander sort of half-smiles at her as he braces the bag for that final kick and it impacts with a /whumpf/ into the fabric. He quirks an eyebrow at that but then back to her as he smiles a little. "Oh I see."
    He starts to step back from the bag as he sets his backpack down upon the side of a nearby bench, leaving it there for now. Lifting one leg he grabs the top of his foot with one hand and streeeeetches his thigh as he pulls back, then shifts stance to the other and repeats the movement, just casually stretching out as he speaks with her.
    "That's why you need me here, something to /hit/ I see how it is."
    He tries to make light, but there is concern in his eyes, perhaps worried about her... about how all of this might be making her feel. So best way to deal with it? Distract her perhaps. And with that...
    "I was about to say you did need to put on some more muscle what with those noodle arms you got there." Indeed, noodle arms. His smile is warm though as he then grabs his left elbow with his right hand and pulls it across his chest, loosening up even further.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
Clarice doesn't even to try deny it, just arching up a brow. "Well, yes. I find myself needing to hit a lot of stuff as of late." a brief mutter but a faint smile eventually crops up to her lips. She knew it had been intended as a joke.

She wonders towards the ring, brushing her hands on the sides of her shorts, rolling her neck and then doing a few jumps, loosening those muscles. "Noodle arms..?" she tsktsks and shakes her head, "Maybe you should worry more about not being able to keep up." she states in ways of challenge.

"I won't be pulling punches." Well, at least where it comes to fightin'. She isn't exactly intending to use her portals to assist.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "It's good to know I can serve a purpose." Alex replies to her as he follows along after, footsteps light as he steps and his gaze drifting to the side, then back. "Gonna take off my shoes since I'm wearing sneakers." He announces as he gets up to the side of that ring and leans against it, starting to unlace them with a few pulls of fingertips.
    Yet it's from that leaning posture that he smiles sidelong at her, "See, you talk a big game. But we'll see who keeps up with whom." He looks down and loosens up the laces then pulls the sneaker off, leaving the white socks in place, then swapping feet and repeating the process.
    "How about this, loser pays for dinner?" A glance is given to her sidelong even as he gets the other shoe off thought his one is a bit easier. They're set to the side of the ring and then he leans against the ropes, pulling them apart for her to be able to get into the ring easier.
    Once she's in he'll follow, planting a shoulder on the mat and rolling under the ropes, then hopping up to bounce on the balls of his feet a few times.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
"We all serve one." Clarice replies with a lift of her shoulders. "Might as well accept yours." she waits by the ring now, her back against the ropes and she balancing herself back and forth, slowly, perhaps even in study of her opponent, taking in his motions and how he warms up for it.

"Good luck extorting dinner off me. You are assuming I have money to pay it." A smirk. "Though I suppose I may have some leftovers I can share." another shrug and she pushes herself off the ropes, face turning more serious and she beginning to circle around the ring.

"Ding." She announces, hands up in a defensive position and she moves in, swift and serpentine, a sweep of her foot to begin the festivities, aiming to get the man down on that first blow. Might as well start big!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Her answer takes him aback for a moment and she can see it, perhaps why she might try that quick large sweep toward his ankle when she does so. For his brow knits and he says, "Wait what, you're not eating?"
    But then she's across the ring and spinning smoothly, her foot slicing across the mat toward his. Yet he's good, guard coming up, snapping ready, squaring up with her as she says that short little 'ding'. And then she slashes at his legs only for him to be caught partially and half-step to the side to avoid the loss of balance. It forces him to bring a fist up palm open towards her as if to stave off the follow up even as he retreats a step, two quickly.
    Gaining focus, control, he exhales a breath at her as he smirks a little, then steps towards her, throwing a few short quick jabs to at least try and keep her honest as he says, "You know you uh... if you need to you can crash at my place."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
"I am eating." Clarice replies, that foot sweeping across, missing, but even so she doesn't stop, spinning about herself and retreating back, a mirror to Alexander's. With quick jabs are answered by she continuing on her motion, using the ring to evade. Clearly she is someone that knows how to use her fighting space well, aware of limitations.

"Just not paying for it, staying with friends." She explains. She blocks a couple of those punches and attempts a counter, a one-two combination.. But she doesn't linger, already moving again.

There is precision in her strikes, not really much in terms of flowery attacks. Focused and ..., most likely she appearing to be holding back. Which is probably a good thing, most strikes she knows are about disabling and killing efficiently!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "That's good then," Alexander says and then finds himself... having to focus on the fight, since she is quick, and she knows what she's about. They move around the ring steadily, occasionally with that partially bouncing step, at times with straight purposeful strides. She comes in with a series of punches and he hunkers down behind his guard, letting her thump heavily upon his forearms. A right cross is caught on his shoulder as he shifts his hips to the side, then he counters with a straight towards her jaw with a short sharp snap of movement.
    Yet if he can get the vibe that she's holding back, she might well be able to tell that he is as well as those punches fired from him are checked a half an inch away from impact.
    There's a moment when they both step in at the same moment and it ends in a momentary clinch with a hand on her shoulder, and his breath against her cheek for an instant, a light tap-tap on her shoulder given to show that he's good, an old boxing gesture then he pushes back so they're both at arm's length again.
    "So where did you study?" He asks as he tries a few more punches, then brings his knee in to try and catch her in the side while her guard rides high.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
The counter to her jaw is a quick one. Not one she can fully dodge out of. But she also knows not to be hit on the jaw, that's deadly enough. So instead she lets her arms take the brunt of the hit, making her grit her teeth.

She takes another jump back to gain distance and then proceeds with a couple of kicks, one towards the legs and a frontal one following right after, her athleticism showing in those smooth motions.

"Genosha. Had a few teachers through the years." Well, a lot of them Magistrates! But no need to go into detail just yet.

"Turns out I had a natural flair for it." maybe its even her mutation!

The knee on the side makes her lift her own knee to meet it in a close to Muay-thai answer. "And who taught you? You are better than I was expecting." she admits, her breathing a tad quicker now.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    That front kick lands firmly into his abdomen and she'll feel the jolt up her leg from the impact, causing him to wince and stagger back a step, though she can feel the firmness of his abs clenched as he moves with the strike. Shaking his head he grimaces a little and then locks eyes with her again, keeping steady and walking to the side before re-engaging.
    "Looks like," That she has a natural flair for it. But then she asks her question and he answers with an honest reply, though like hers without the fullness of truth to it. "My father." A few straight punches are thrown, and she can likely tell he's more into the fight as his breathing is controlled now, short quiet exhalations of breath with each strike as he murmurs a soft, 'Sah' to himself with each movement.
    "And a few people who owed him favors." With that said he steps in for a quick combination, left punch slashing forward, right, then his hips turn and he spins cleanly, leg coming up, chambering, and then firing a spinning back kick straight towards her abdomen with a short sharp, "EESAH!" Shouted from him.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
Controlled breathing, precise movements. And sure, a lot of her techniques are to be used in tandem with her portal abilities. But they serve well enough. Too many years as an assassin for a dictatorial regime in the form of the Magistrates. "Some good favors it seems." she says in admittance to the quality of the man's fighting..

Yet as they continue on fighting more it's clear she isn't exactly the best where it comes to frontal confrontation, at least against someone with Aaron's skill. So while those first combinations are dodged and she prepares to move in for the counter that last kick catches her by surprise.

She still places her arms in front to minimize the impact but it doesn't stop her from being tossed to the ropes, grimacing. "Ufff, timeout." she calls.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Biting his lower lip for a moment, Alexander immediately drops stance and then steps towards her, "Hey, sorry." A few strides as he closes that distance and moves to make sure the ropes don't give or twist under her weight, since having her flip out of the ring and onto the floor beyond would not be a good thing.
    Funny, maybe. But not good.
    Yet he stops to stand beside her, some hesitation, but then he rests a hand on her shoulder. Tentative contact, but gentle. As if unsure whether or not it's okay with everything that's passed for her. Genosha. Brainiac. The World.
    "You alright?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
Nope, no falling down on the ground or otherwise becoming hopelessly entangled on the ropes. She remains standing, arms on her hips and catching up on her breathing. "Well, good kick." she says up to the young man, not flinching away from the touch on her shoulder. Instead it makes her smile faintly.

"I will be, even if my pride isn't." the smile turning into a smirk. "Rough times, but I trust my people. I know we will get through this." then a nod.

"How about we go and see about that dinner? I clearly won so you are buying right?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Yeah, sure." Alexander gives her shoulder a squeeze and is about to turn away. She might even feel him start to step back. But then those hazel eyes meet hers and as she's standing, straightening up, his head will tilt to the side slightly. Gently.
    "Hey, Clarice..." The blond youth starts to say, and then instead of drawing back he steps close. That hand on her shoulder returns, just a touch, that lets his fingers brush her cheek. With an ease of movement brought forth by concern and affection, warmth and desire, he'll draw her to him if she'll allow. A tender embrace as his eyes meet hers, his brow just barely touching her own. They're both warm from their exercise, and he in part from the nearness shared. A small smile is there, a little sad, but then he murmurs quietly.
    "I missed you,"
    Just soft words that herald the touch of lips. It's a faint kiss, barely more than a brush of sensation. Then lingers as breath is shared.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
Clarice clearly doesn't seem to be the damsel in distress type. Sure, there is a very faint shudder as perhaps all that weight about Brainiac, the mutants, everything, weighs down on her. But no crying or otherwise crumbling down. Whatever this woman is she seems the type that bends but doesn't break. The call for her name makes her look up with a, "Mmm?" then the closeness..

..It's answered by her stepping forward. "Me as well." she tells him. Just the faint lingering touch of lips on lips. Yet eventually it does break and she steps back, her grin more evident. "Not many that can give me the kind of trouble that you did up on the ring. So it was a deserved one." and then she flips down from the ring in an acrobatic flip, legs high and then she twisting, landing on her feet.