Can You Do Better? (Open)

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Ah, the fresh air of the woods!

So far Isabela Monroe found herself in a very good mood. She was glad to see so many people willing to come on the Retreat this year - and beyond that, she was grateful for the many who were getting involved in certain activities. The lake was always full of hyperactive students during the day, cannon-balling off the edge of the jetty and all that. The trails were full of active students enjoying what nature had to offer. The obstacle course was, in a singular word; awesome.

After lunch, the short woman made her way to said obstacle course to check out who was enjoying the challenge today. Clapping her hands together, she slipped a set of black fingerless cloves over her neon coloured nails and reached up to ensure the black fedora on her head was securely in place. Her perfectly sculpted hair still peeked out the front, so it was a definite worry that her hat was so far back, it might actually fall off. Some would think she looked weird; being so far in the mountains in a fitted, tucked in white T shirt with suspenders and an obscenely tight pair of black slacks.

And she would say that they were weird.

But before she opted to venture up, she glanced at the people coming near. The Phys. Ed teacher was looking for anyone who looked like they were up for a challenge - teacher or student.

[Cee Cohen]

Cee was at the retreat because his therapist thought it would be a good idea to get away from computers, internet, conspiracy theories and the indoors for a while. She'd expressed that she was concerned by the fact that he probably didn't get enough Vitamin D--why was everyone worried about this, anyways?--and thought it would be good for Cee to get out. Cee decided not to mention the fact that he'd rigged his computer with a solar charger and a mobile wi-fi card.

Nope. No one needed to know this.

But in the interests of not being given a look when he returned, Cee had decided to explore the outdoors (it also helped that he had to do some actual, well, watching over of students once in a while). And along the way, he'd found this wonderful obstacle course, which he was approaching now. There seemed to be a rather interestingly dressed young woman watching over it--the P.E. teacher, he thought, although God knew he didn't get out much--and he stepped forward.

"Hello!" he said cheerfully. "Is this for students, or can I take a crack at it? I used to run track in high school."

He'd had a fabulous lap time but extremely high expenses when it came to broken gear. Someone stop him from doing this. It will only end badly.

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Isabela was a lucky individual indeed - among other things, her memory was much more suited to remembering a lot in a little amount of time. She'd seen most of the staff around in the few months that she'd been around... But this one? She searched her memory for as long as she could but the name was evading her expertly. "Hello to you, sir!" She greeted back, gladly matching his level of cheerfulness, "I believe it's fair game for all, so long as you're looking forward to enjoying yourself."

Very briefly, Isabela glanced back up. Nothing but good vibes were coming from this idea, especially with the notion of getting the rather eccentric looking fella up high for a stint in the rope course. Perhaps that was a request saved for another time. "Would you mind some company on your run of the obstacles?" The safety of the ground of the challenge of the skies; both were so tempting! But wait, where were her manners!?

"Oh, but first, I don't believe we've met. Isabela Monroe." Running her gloved hand along her pants briefly, she extended it out to him with a smile. "And you are?"

[Cee Cohen]

No surprise there. Considering how often Cee was around in common areas (AKA: rarely, and when he was it only lasted for a few minutes) and outside, they probably would’ve never met. But that didn’t stop Cee from being excited of the idea of briefly reliving his extremely short-lived high school athletic career.

Had he known that she was getting good vibes off the idea, however, he might’ve been a little worried. This was many things, but it definitely wasn’t a good idea. Just like the rope was. Cee’s arms were incredibly spindly and were only good at putting things down on a cart to carry away.

“Nice to meet you, Isabela.” He grinned at her. “I’m Cornelius Cohen. Friends call me Cee. And when I refer to friends, I really mean everyone.” Which was sort of code for everyone is my friend and, at the same time, a strong hint that no one called him Cornelius. “I would greatly enjoy company, thank you. And guidance. My vision is not exactly superb.”

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

"Well, if you're up for calling me a friend, I'm up for calling you Cee." Isabela denoted with a smile. She liked him already - his friendly demeanour and all that. It definitely put a smile on her already bright face.

When he mentioned that he didn't have the best eye sight, she raised a hand and shook her head slightly. "I'd be delighted, sir." Of course, now there was just the question of where they were supposed to go. Which path to take. How difficult a run to make. The air, or the ground. "What're you looking for, today? A challenge or a breeze?" She pressed her lips into a grin, trying really hard not to laugh at the potential pun she'd just made. "I should really say, would you rather hit the ground track or the tightropes?" She looked up at the wires connected from tree to tree. It. Looked. Awesome.

Too bad he mightn't even be able to see it!

[Cee Cohen]

“Oh wonderful!” Cee brightened, even though—well, no, he couldn’t really see her smile. But he could see a blurry outline of something that might be a smile and he liked that.

“Thank you!” Well, at least she hadn’t tried to talk him out of it. She probably should have tried to talk him out of it, but that…wouldn’t have ended up going anywhere anyways, so it was probably better in the long run that she hadn’t tried.

“A challenge, of course!” Cee seemed only mildly offended—he was smiling. “I wouldn’t want anything less. But tightropes…is a bad idea.” His balance wasn’t that good, he was clumsy, and he could hardly see. He could try it on his hands and knees, but that seemed like a good way to end things painfully.

“You were allowed a tightrope?”

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Never did it dawn on the Physical Education teacher that this - any of this - might be a bad idea. Perhaps it was unfortunate that she didn't know him from adam. Perhaps she should have spent a little more time finding out about her co-workers. And perhaps, literally or not, it was going to be her downfall.

To say tightropes were a bad idea only encouraged the eccentric teacher. She'd heard that kind of talk before.

"Tightropes are... Well, look at it this way. You're always harnessed in, so the worst case is that you fall a foot or so and dangle aimlessly in the air until someone helps you out." She reasoned, glancing back up again curiously. "And I'm very capable at helping a person out. The simplicity might surprise you. You just hold the top wire and try to move along the bottom with your feet."

Or, she supposed she shouldn't pressure him into anything. "Or the safe simplicity of the ground. Where your skills as a high school track star can really shine."

[Cee Cohen]

“Oh, really?” Cee brightened considerably at that idea. So it wouldn’t be a disastrous fall from several feet that would probably break his glasses even if it broke nothing else (and that was incredibly unlikely). It would only be a minor fall, and as Cee couldn’t SEE heights, it didn’t particularly worry him. “That would be wonderful. But…maybe not.” After all, he’d spend more time dangling helplessly—as he normally did—than walking on the rope. “We’ll just try the simplicity of the ground. I enjoy that word. Simplicity. Hm!” Cee offered another happy smile, then grabbed his leg and pulled it up into a stretch.

And promptly stumbled before he caught himself. “I wasn’t ever really a star, you understand,” he said. “More of a, ah, nuisance. Would you run with me? That might be the best intention.”