If you have it, flaunt it. (Talen)

[Zachary LaRousse]

Finally, a warm and sunny Saturday morning. Given the current situation (it was already September in Vermont after all), the cloudless sky was really a treat. Despite not being fond of the great outdoors, Zax knew that such weather is a rare opportunity to simply pass out. So instead of bumming out in his room (his instructors were kind enough not to give them work for the weekend) or going to town to indulge himself with new clothes once more, he decided that today would be a perfect day to work out. (And besides, since he’s been to town five times already, he’s probably bought one of every design out there).

To say that Zac takes pride in his physique would be an understatement. Heck, he’d take any opportunity to rip his shirt and show off to the whole wide world. He believes in the saying “If you have it, flaunt it”, and being the vain and conceited person that he is, he strongly believes knows that he indeed has it.

Zac knows first impressions are important, and since he wants people to think that he’s perfect in every way – so they’ll be intimidated and worship him, hopefully – he makes it his top priority to keep his body in tip-top shape. Also, he’s a bit of a flirt a huge flirt (and a manipulative one to beat), and what better way to attract girls (and the occasional guys) than to be the Adonis they’ve been looking for? (He won’t deny the fact that he’s used his body to get what he wants. He’s just so twisted like that).

He believes that it’s a sin to look ugly unattractive if you have the means (i.e. money) to fix it. So early on (when he turned 14), he hired a personal trainer and housed him in Pilot Ridge to help him out. He visits him 3-5 times a week, usually staying for 2-3 hours at most. It was hard and exhausting at first, and Zac almost quit come the third week. Luckily Cedric encouraged him not to, and told him that he’ll be a big, fat lug of nothing if he won’t continue. Now that he’s older (and presumably more disciplined), his trainer left Pilot Ridge already, only flying back to check on him and tell him off from time to time.

Zac grumbled as he got out of the shower and put on his work-out shorts (’have it, flaunt it’, remember?). If only the administration would allow him to bring a treadmill to his room, he wouldn’t have to go outside. But no, they have to deny his request as they deem it too big and would take up too much space – he only has a quarter of the dorm for himself after all (good thing they didn’t know he uses the other free rooms as his closet). He stretched for a bit after tying his shoes laces and strapping his iPod on his arm. After giving one last huff, he turned the knob and went off to the training grounds, hoping the sun wouldn’t hide from him any time soon.



ooc:
Yey. Finally finished my Talen-post. Haha. I am so sorry for the title Mandii, brain doesn't function well at night. :3.
Real sorry for the delay, and the massive PMs. :3.
-Jam

[Talen Trahan]

The sun was warm on his back, enough so that he could almost feel the skin cells getting the nice tan he had been missing since he left New Orleans. Sure, his skin was naturally dark because of his parentage, but he always liked to stand out in the sun and feel it on his skin, making his skin darker and darker with each passing summer. Of course, now that he was in the north, his tan would slip away every winter, so he would only be a burnished gold when summer came ‘round again, and then he would be bronze, as he was now.

His current activity of the day: working out. That was his daily objective. He ran, he swam, he lifted weights and practiced his karate. Right now he was focusing on pushups in the grass, feeling the blades tickle his palms as he breathed. His arm muscles rippled as he lowered and lifted himself on the ground, feeling the sun on his back like a warm blanket. He did a set of twenty, then lowered himself to the cool ground. After a moment of rest, he propped himself on his forearms, doing a plank exercise for one minute, before going back to the pushups. He did this a total of five times; by then the sweat was rolling off like he had gone swimming.

Dark hair fell into his eyes as he stood up, shaking out his arms and rolling his shoulders to loosen them. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted someone entering the training yard; another boy. This one looked to be Asian; he was pretty good-looking, if Talen was any judge of physical looks. He had an iPod strapped to his arm, and Tal drew a deep sigh. Great; it looked like he wasn’t going to be alone on this field. Tal reached down into his own bag, grabbed his iPod, and slipped it onto his arm, adjusting it as he looked away from the other boy. Once that was done, he slipped the earbuds into his ears.

With his head bumping gently to the sound of artists like Pillar, Disturbed, and Three Day’s Grace, Tal laid back down on the grass, closed his eyes, and began an ab workout designed to make his stomach hurt.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac was glad that there was virtually no one else in the courtyard yet. After all, it was a Saturday, and most people would rather make up for their lack of sleep than enjoy the early morning sun; the weatherman told them that the day’ll be sunny after all, and Hammel has more than enough weather manipulators to make sure that it will come true. He closed his eyes and gently inhaled the cool morning breeze; never mind that he’s covered in sweat already, the silence and serenity of the surroundings was enough to make him feel so relaxed and energized.

But his apparently peace was short-lived; he accidentally stepped on a rather sharp rock, causing him to mouth a few unintelligible expletives and making him step on a muddy puddle, which made him curse even more. “Sh*t,” he said, leaning near a tree to check his soiled shoe. Aside from his natural dislike for all things dirty and muddy, the particular pair he wore today, a pair of white Addidas Jeremy Scott winged shoes, just arrived the other day. This was his first time wearing them, and really, who’d think they’d get dirty so easily?

Sudden all so bitter, he simply sat down on the ground and grumbled. He’s decided to take a break; he’d been jogging around for a half hour or so already, and with his mood down, it’ll be hard to go back into the zone again. He told himself he should’ve called Jude. If he just remembered to call him last night, then Zac would’ve been able to use the gym equipment and the whole shoe-soiling event wouldn’t have happened. Having so many private benefactors, the LaRousses included, it goes without saying that the school’s facilities were state-of-the-art. Only problem is, students can only use said facilities if they’re with an instructor or a staff member. Zac was sure Jude wouldn’t mind; he’d give him the go permission and he’ll be off probably. It was had been the setup before, wonder why he’d forget to phone his trainer now?

He slumped back to the tree and began randomly throwing rocks when he saw another figure in the courtyard. “When did he get here?” he asked himself. He leaned forward and squinted his eyes to see who the figure is better. A smirk suddenly formed in his face when he realized who the exercising shadow is: Talen Nicolas Trahan.

Despite being roughly two years his junior, Zac considers the young Talen as his rival. He’s been in Hammel for about two years, but he’s managed to “steal some of Zac’s thunder”, so to speak. Like Zac, he comes from a rich family, and he isn’t really lacking in the looks department. Fortunately, the two haven’t had a face off yet. That is, until now.

Zac quietly tucked his earphones in his pocket and walked towards the boy, his smirk permanently plastered on his face. “Woah, is this true, the elusive Talen Trahan, in front of me?” he said, wonderfully mixing sarcasm and amusement in his tone, “Working hard to stay incredibly irresistible?”

It was a good thing he didn’t call Jude after all.

[Talen Trahan]

Tal didn’t care that the sun was too bright or that he was swimming in his own sweat; all he cared about was a good workout. By the time Zach walked over to the younger boy, Tal was already shirtless and working on flutter kicks. He bit his lower lip on concentration, his fingers buried in the loose soil under him as he kicked his legs higher and higher. His ab muscles rippled as he worked, creating a tributary system of his sweat as it rolled off between the indentations of his abdomen.

Tal looked up when the shadow came across his face, looking into the face of the boy who had just arrived. So close, Tal slowed as recognition lit his dark eyes; this was Zach LaRousse, one of the more popular boys on campus, and his family helped fund the school. Tal’s parents, who were rich from plantation farming and horse racing, could help the school, but they lived too far away to participate, and they sent their money to help with his and his sister’s education. He put his feet on the ground as Zach spoke, and slowly stood.

It was no secret that he stayed elusive; he just wasn’t a people person like his sister was. He took his earphones out of his ears and coiled them around his iPod. “Yeah, I’m right here, Zach,” Tal replied, raising his arms over his head to stretch his abdomen. The muscles strained, feeling the burn of the workout, and Tal smiled. “I’m working hard because I want to stay fit, not impress anyone.” Well, that last part wasn’t true; he had his eye on someone, but she was older than him, and she was a very good friend. “But if you want to call me irresistible, you may.” Tal grinned at Zach, feeling the forthcoming of a challenge.

Bring it on, pretty boy, Tal mentally challenged Zach.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac let a small chuckle out, more in amusement than anything, as he towered above the kid, carefully watching Talen finish his routine with his arms crossed. He would’ve invaded the kid’s personal space more (as he often did to almost everybody) if it weren’t for his feet waving around like crazy. He’s got to admit, the kid’s definitely a show stealer. He was only in his mid-teens but his built was astounding. Zac’s body was nowhere near Talen’s when he was his age (he tells himself that he wasn’t too serious back then, eating more junk food despite his trainer’s constant reminders – he wasn’t one to compliment without justifying his shortcomings). He didn’t realize he’s been staring at Talen for about a minute or so until he heard the kid’s voice, which somehow brought himself back to reality. Most people would’ve blushed when they realize such an awkward mistake, but Zac being the Zachary that he is (apparently that’s an adjective now), has already mastered the art of hiding one’s embarrassment, easily shrugging it off with a smirk.

“Working to stay fit, haven’t I heard that excuse before?” Zac mocked Tal, cocking his eyebrow. Zac used that excuse one too many times when he was just starting out. Heck, Zac even told himself that when he was trying to justify his weekly workout sessions. After a while, he got tired of justifying himself and just accepted that he was doing it for no other reason than to show off.

He leaned in closer when Tal stood up, stopping mere inches from the boy’s face. “Don’t flatter yourself boy,” he hissed, “I was being sarcastic.” He went back a few steps then continued, “Do I have to carry a sarcastic sign every time I’m around you?”

Zac smirked as he circled Tal, like a lion carefully stalking its prey. “Don’t you find it funny that in all these years that we’ve been in Hammel, we’ve never had a chance to get to know each other better?” he said smugly, “I mean, I only know you by reputation. Don’t you think that’s sad?” He gave Talen a pouty face, as if he is sincerely sad about the whole thing. Seeing that his workout is destroyed by the mud in his shoes, he’d just start on the work he should’ve done when Talen was still a freshman – the ever-crucial task of telling the boy where he belonged in Zac’s twisted wonderful universe.