Owner	Pose
Ororo Munroe	It's not every day that Ororo hits the gym in the basement of the mansion. For one thing, having innate control of her physiology means that really, unless she's being particularly decadent in her choice of dessert, she can maintain herself in fighting fit shape without any real need for dedicated workout time. And also, there's the fact that in the sub-basement there's the far more advanced gym for the X-Men, and who doesn't want to work out with alien technology? But sometimes, just sometimes, Ororo considers the ludicrous privilege they have in that particular aspect.     And using alien technology that could probably reshape the planet as a treadmill just loses its luster. Which is why Ororo Munroe, Storm, Queen of Weather, has her hair tied back in a snug, no-nonsense ponytail and is dressed in a simple white tanktop and gym shorts, and a pair of calf-height athletic socks and shining new sneakers, her feet striking the treadmill in a steady, focused rhythm. Her eyes aren't even open, closed, face in a serene, almost distant mask. Perhaps she's imagining she's running across the savannah. Maybe she's figuring out what pop quiz to throw at the kids this afternoon.     Either way, she seems absolutely oblivious to her surroundings, no sign of earbuds, headphones, or other distraction from the rhythm of the run and the stream of her own thoughts.
James Proudstar	Someone who /really/ doesn't hit the gym all that often is James Proudstar, AKA Warpath, AKA (briefly) Thunderbird. The tall man, 7'2" to be exact, came into the gym of the X-Men wearing black sweatpants, simple running shoes, and a black tanktop, allowing his muscular arms to be seen. His long hair came down a little bit past his jaw, his eyes immediately looking around to observe his surroundings. Though happy to see her, he seems visibly surprised to notice Ororo Munroe working out. She was already quite in shape, absolutey gorgeous, perfectly fit. He once heard a thing or two about her being able to control her own physiology, which meant a few possibilities.... She's doing this for therapeutic reasons, as though to let out steam or to simply remember a time when she /could/ run as far as she wanted without responsibilities, perhaps. ...or just for fun. Either way, James seems to wave at Ororo a little bit. "Hi Ororo." He greets her, doubting he would get a response. What kind of woman who's like THAT would give him the time of day? She was worshipped as a Goddess. He's simply a Apache Warrior. But all the same, he seems to be approaching one of the heavier lifting sets, the ones specifically for those particular mutants with superhuman strength. He sets it to the highest setting - about 85 tons, and he stands underneath it, before he squats down with all that weight on his shoulders. The thing is? He makes it look *easy*, squatting down until his legs are fully horizontal and standing right back up, as though it was no problem.
Ororo Munroe	For all that serene apparent oblivious, Ororo has been occupied recently with attempting to hone her ability to tap into The Green, that vast source of life energy on Earth which lets her sense living creatures nearby. It's always been somewhat uncontrolled, and Ororo cannot list how many uses it may have if she could master it. And of course, she is nothing if not focused on improving herself at all times. And while her efforts have borne some fruit, she can sense a strong presence approaching. Indeed, by the time James has stepped into the gym proper and taken in Ororo's body in motion, her pace has faltered just a bit, white brows furrowing, teeth clenching on her full lower lip It's not too long, those bright blue eyes blinking open right as his hand is lifting in a wave, turning and locking unerringly on the towering man, lips spreading into a wide smile, "Ah. James. Hello! I thought you were... well, I wasn't sure who you were. Someone tall." Her lips quirked in a wry little smile as she moved her right hand to tap and fiddle with the treadmill controls, slowing from a brisk pace to a meandering jog, to a swift walk, her breath coming deeper, dark skin glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. It really seems like she's been doing this for a bit. "How have you been doing? I know I have been somewhat... difficult to pin down of late. But I'm hoping I can perhaps have some time outside my lesson planning." And while her eyebrows perk as she takes in that weight setting, she doesn't seem to expect him to be unable to converse casually. "I take it we both had the same problem this morning? Pent up energy with no outlet." She sighs out and shakes her head slowly, lips quirking in a lopsided smile. "Perhaps we need more school events. Idle hands are trouble as they say. Or whatever it is they say."
James Proudstar	James hasn't the slightest inkling as to the extent of Ororo's abilities. He doesn't know too much about her connection to the Green. After all, much of his abilities are physical in nature, but sometimes...sometimes he might have the potential for so much more. Regardless of that, when she seems to actually notice him? James seems a little surprised, slightly taken aback. "Hi Ororo. It's okay, I don't think I'm very noticeable." Honestly, the choices were either him or Piotr. ...and he needs more confidence in himself. Either way, he seems to meet her wonderful eyes in that moment, smiling as she slows down her pace to converse with him effectively, even if the occasional clang of weight upon weight echoes throughout the room when he squats too far down. "I've been doing well, thank you. I know I'm not really contributing much, but I think since coming back from the farm, I'm doing a bit better." James gives her that warm smile, his breathing controlled, not quite sweating yet like Ororo is, but her sweat is giving her a bit of a glistening glow in the light. "Well, if you have time outside of your lesson planning, maybe me and you can get up to something, get you to have some fun instead of work all the time." A new outlook indeed from the mutant known as Warpath! "Yeah, bit too much pent up energy. And since I assume the fun way is out..." that being the *fun* way. "weight lifting will have to do." a little bit of humor there. "I think more events would be helpful, yeah. Get people off their laurels for a little bit." He gets up one last time at ten reps, before he sets the weight back on it's rack, rolling his shoulders a little bit. "But, how are you /really/ doing, Ororo?"
Ororo Munroe	Ororo rolls her eyes and murmurs out dryly, "I think you may underestimate how noticeable you are when you are not trying to be stealthy for tactical purposes, James. You are quite tall. Very noticeable." She snickers softly, and with a few taps, her pace is increasing once more, back to a steady jog, a little faster, until she's easing into not quite a full sprint, but an easy, swift gait to keep herself moving without making her breathing requirement too intense to allow for conversation. She laughs out, sighing heavily, "Now now, we all contribute to our cause as fully as we can at any time, and if we have any fault it is in pushing ourselves too hard and expecting too much, expecting ourselves to always give more and ignore our limits." Is this ironic to point out while Ororo's partway through running a marathon? Maybe. Maybe just a teensy bit. She laughs out softly, "Oh, I have fun! Admittedly, the fun is often a book and a nice beverage in my loft. But I could probably do to enjoy more socializing, lest I become as taciturn as some of our grumpier allies. I think we are, perhaps, all grumped up with Cable about." Ororo laughed out warmly and murmured dryly, just loud enough to be heard over weights moving and treadmill running, "Well, that is certainly an option for unleashing pent up energy, yes. But there are less pleasant options! A polar bear plunge perhaps? It has been a shockingly mild winter, but I can always change that if you desire." And then at that question she's trailing the treadmill back down to a slow stop, springing off, bouncing her weight from foot to foot, lifting the leg she's not resting on at any moment to hook her arms under her knee and raise her thigh, stretching out to avoid cramps. "But yes, I think perhaps, we need to find some outlets that do not involve diving into cold water. Especially in my case. It's thrilling, but hardly as extreme as it is for most."
James Proudstar	"Well, if height is an advantage to be noticed, I'll try and work on that. Though aside from my height, I think I mostly just look mean." He did tend to have a rather stoic attitude, but on advice from several people, he's trying to 'lighten up' his general disposition, as it were. Yet, all the same, he seems to be smiling at Ororo in good humor. "Though, it can be a disadvantage when I try to walk through doors." He typically has to duck, thanks to his height. "I can't help but feel a strong sense of irony." James comments towards Ororo's running. "I feel as though many of us push ourselves too hard and too far without giving much of an outlet." He suggests. "But, I think limits exist to be overcome and barriers to be shattered. Who knows, it's a long life we live, one would hope. Ought to defy every expectation." James remarks lightly. "Cable certainly has a lot of..similarities to Scott in his demeanor. Bit serious, but he's a good leader at least. No nonsense. He doesn't do much for the sake of it though." he admits. "Do you have a book you're reading right now?" He asks Ororo, taking an interest in her likes. Her laughter was a beautiful thing to hear. It was uplifting, even contagious as James found his lips tilting upwards, parting even, for a laugh to be exhaled from him. "That is true, there are less pleasant options. I don't think I've ever done a polar bear plunge though. And I think I'm alright, Winter isn't my favorite season, Ororo." He smirks at her. He watches as she gets off the treadmill and starts to stretch. He tries hard not to stare...but occasionally, his eyes do wander ever so slightly before looking back away. "Well, what would you suggest, Ororo? Could even spar a little if you like, or perhaps try a training simulation..but that seems too close for home. Do you like to try new restaurants or enjoy a night camping under the stars?"
Ororo Munroe	Ororo's eyes narrow slightly, lips curving playfully, "Well, you look more... intimidating than mean. Perhaps attempt to radiate an aura of... large, muscular teddy bear." Her lips press in a thin line, thoughtful. Like she's trying to imagine that. ...Well, it was advice, not something _she_ had to succeed at, so surely not being able to picture it is in no way a premonition of failure. She bobs her head as she shifts from stretching her knees up nearly to her chest to hooking her heel back behind her to work her quads as she heaves out a breath, "It's true. All of us likely focus far too much on our duties and responsibilities than any real relaxation or enjoyment. Even the leisure activities, the sleigh rides around Christmas and the trips in the summer to the woods with the school children are more responsibility, aren't they? Simply more of the... teacher portion of our duties than the more dramatic sort of duty." She sighs out and grins broadly. Her head bobs as she sighs out, "Oh, nothing particular right now, I've mostly been reading cookbooks... though I never seem to get around to trying to cook. I should perhaps. At least once, I would have willing test subjects. They would not know I cannot cook until AFTER the first meal." And then she was laughing out softly as she turns about, facing away and continuing that slow wind down from exercise. "Yes, well, I can understand that. Frankly, given how chilly most find winter..." She glances over to the door to the sauna, normally locked so students cannot access it, "We do have a rather simple and straight forward way to relax and unwind after a workout right here. And the lock fits the standard faculty key, so..." Slim eyebrows perk, "Camping under the stars can be quite freeing, perhaps in a week or two when the last of winter has slipped away. And I rarely actually make it out to the city to try any of the restaurants. Another oversight I will have to work on in time." She clicked her tongue softly, "So then, I think we may find ourselves with many ways to burn our energy off, James... unless of course you intend to spend it all on the weights there."
James Proudstar	"Well, I'll take intimidating. Don't want people to think I'll bite their head off if they say hi or some such." James really was a nice guy when it came down to brass tacks. Sure, he can be a bit of a hardass in a tactical situation, but at the same time? He can be the sweetest person available. Though for some particular reason, he felt....lighter in the presence of Ororo. Maybe that was just the kind of effect she had on people. Either way, James was not going to disregard her kindness or the way she made him feel. Course, she's stretching in various angles and positions, causing him to try and move around her so he can try and maintain eye contact or at least be in a positoin to talk to her. She bended and curved, and he doesn't want to disrespect her by letting his eyes wander too much. Yet all the same, when she starts to keep talking, he continues to listen. "I think we need a new mental attitude. A new way to go about these situations." James remarks ever so softly. "Even for staff, planning a trip for the classmen and students can be a little bit stressful and difficult." He knows full well, he's watched over a few of them, mostly the camping trips and simple places, like a restaurant or a zoo. Though he hears that she's not really reading much but cookbooks. "Cookbooks? Well, maybe we can cook together. I'm not too bad of a chef and I've been meaning to try your cuisine." He shivers from evening IMAGINING winter. "I prefer the Spring and Summer months. The rain is beautiful, always manages to relax me." Course he hasn't forgotten the irony of saying this to the God of Storms, but all the same, James seems to be giving her a little bit of a smile when she agrees for camping. "I would love that. I know a great spot for it." He suggests, though she tells him they find themselves with many options, causing him to nod, as he meets her eyes in all of their intensity. "And I would be glad to burn all of our energy together." He says near immediately, meeting her gaze, not moving a muscle.
Ororo Munroe	Ororo nods solemnly and sighs, "Yes, we definitely need some sort of actually relaxing gameplan. I would suggest 'Everyone gets to steal the Blackbird to go somewhere once every six weeks', but then it just adds more difficulty to some people, having to learn how to fly, where to go..." She frowns thoughtfully and shrugs lightly. "I think, perhaps, this is a problem for the professor to contemplate. I am sure he can come up with a solution. And I think tasking ourselves to come up with a solution to our levels of stress may in fact..." Her lips quirk in a broader grin, "Somewhat counter productive. But yes, camping trips, small get togethers, and other stress relief on an informal basis should at least allow us to focus better in the short term." As Ororo winds down from her workout, she smiles lopsidedly, "Well, I'll have to get you to show me the spot. Is it around the grounds? I admit, somehow I never think of camping elsewhere, even though the grounds are so often hectic."
James Proudstar	James takes a step closer to Ororo, his hands lifting to rest on his hips ever s oslightly. "Hmmmm....I think that might lead to even more problems." He seems to smirk a little bit at the noticeably shorter woman, though the smile on his face remains. "If we have kids stealing the Blackbird, it's entirely possible that they crash it. Though...if they crash it and survive, it may be a good lesson to learn...but I'd rather not risk that." He chuckles a little bit. "I agree, let the Professor use his people skills for this one. Though, perhaps, it may just be something we have to try and manage." He shrugs heavy shoulders, letting them rise and fall easily. Her little grin though could make him melt, but thankfully, he keeps his composure. "Agreed. And get /you/ to stop working so much. I like to think I know how to show a lady a decent time." He shows confidence, even if he underplays himself a little bit, a little laughter coming from his lips. "It's not too far, certainly. Besides, it'd be a good excuse to take a break. In the forest, there's plenty of places, even a spot right by the lake that not many people but yours truly happens to visit, so there can be some peace and quiet, at least."