Hittin' the Weights (Zach Larousse)

[Vladimir Misovitch]

Vladik had heard that his new school had a gym which was free to use for students, so he figured he'd check it out. Physical health had been a high priority at Odarennyĭ and he liked to keep in shape anyway.
When he eventually found it he saw a rather extensive selection of weights and such like. He was most pleased. He located his favourite apparatus and commenced use: Dumbbells. He favoured dumbbells because most big-time weight lifters liked free-weights and the dumbbells were particularly suited to him. They worked the muscles that were already strong from years and years of violin playing - not that he'd let anyone know it. If anyone asked they were his "punching muscles" - not that he's a big fighter either, just that he'd rather people thought he fought than played violin.
He picked up a pair of 6kg weights and began working out.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Ever since his rather unfortunate (but totally expected) incident with Ann happened, Zac’s on-off depression had been turned into a permanent ‘on’, with the boy becoming a bit too moody and brooding for his own good over the past few days. It doesn’t really help that the Valentine’s Day dance is just around the corner, with people talking about it here and there. In his current state, he feels as if the posters are mocking him really. Even Stephen’s rather inspiring talk with him did little to drag him off this slump he’s in.

Unlike most people however, Zac didn’t keep himself stuck to his room, blankly staring at the wall across him or bawling his eyes out on a pillow. Nor did he gorge himself in ice cream and chocolates. Instead, he’s been visiting the gym a little too often, working himself out till curfew and all that (thank goodness his school load had been relatively light; he still has that World War II report to make, but Logan said he’ll just stop by one of these days to help him finish it). He was about to drive there today too, had Pete not called and told him he couldn’t give his car back; said his father insisted on giving it a makeover all of a sudden. He simply shrugged, knowing that it was his father’s way of somewhat giving him an incentive to come to the dance and enjoy himself. Not really working, he thought.

With a sigh, Zac resolved to simply use the school’s facilities. They’re not as bad really, but they do get a bit crowded at times. Hopefully that isn’t the case today.

Clad in a simple white wife beater and loose cotton shorts (and grabbing a simple gray hoodie to keep him a bit warm), he walked out of his room, black duffel bag in hand, and began his trek to the aforementioned training rooms. He couldn’t help but let a relieved sigh out when he saw that it’s been empty had it not been for the seemingly familiar guy in the distance. Where has he seen him again?

Taking his hoodie off and stretching for a bit, he casually walked over to the treadmills (which were, coincidentally, right beside the dumbbells were the guy was) and began his routine. “Vladimir, right?” he asked casually, the name entering his mind all of a sudden, “Not-so-much a new kid, right? From Russia? I’m Zac LaRousse.” He was down, but that doesn’t mean he has to put off telling the new kid who he was around school.

[Vladimir Misovitch]

Suprised that someone who was - apparently - a stranger knew his name, Vladimir turned, though he didn't stop lifting weights. "How do you know my name?" he queeried in his thick Russian accent. It was true that he was somewhat distinctive - although in a school full of meta's most everybody stood out - and as a foreign student he probably attracted a little extra attention. Still, there was no logical reason why this kid would know him.
With someone else in the gym now to impress, Vlad cast an eye onto the 8kg's Shortly. he thought to himself in Russian. And after a few lifts with them he'd 'get bored' and move onto the tens. This would be pushing it, but hopefull the conversation would evolve enough to give him an excuse to stop before he began to show signs of wearyness.
He cast his eye back to the newcomer; he appeared to have a very similar physique to himself, only with weaker arm muscles.

[Zachary LaRousse]

“Russian huh. Sexy,” chuckled Zac as he heard the distinct accent when Vlad spoke, his tone a mixture of amusement and sarcasm. Normally the Prince would follow such a quip with a suggestive glance and a flirtatious wink, but with the combined weight of Ann’s rejection and Rumor’s latest blog entry (he does believe he’s having too much ‘leisure time’ with men lately, not good) pressing on his shoulders, he decided to simply give the Russian a casual smile and turned back into his workout.

It took him a few moments to answer Vlad’s question. To build up the suspense, he says. Without even bothering to look back to the boy as he spoke, he said, “Well, I have ears everywhere Vlad. And besides, it’s hard to miss a 20-something guy running around a campus of mostly teenagers.” Indeed, Antosha, the only other 20-something he knows of, stood out like a sore thumb amongst them; then again, Antosha was quite tall, not to mention a tad bit eccentric for his own good. Amazing how they’re both Russians too.

While Zac wouldn’t deny the fact that Vlad had quite the build (he ‘checked’ him out the moment he saw him from the distance), he wouldn’t accept the fact that the older boy had better arm muscles than him though. Nope, his ego wouldn’t allow it. He’d probably let it pass that they both have a bulk (though Zac would constantly say that he’s bigger than Vlad, like a totally mature kid) but hearing that he has ‘weaker’ arms is just too much.

“So tell me,” he asked, cockiness overflowing from his voice, “What brings you here in Hammel? I mean, isn’t Odarennyĭ (did I say that right) enough for you people?” Not that he doesn’t want the guy here; he’s just curious. He promptly increased the pace at which the treadmill’s running before saying, “And please don’t say that you want better control of your powers, because you don’t seem like the type to go running around town, fucking everyone around with your out-of-control lightning bolts. Or are you?” He gave Vlad a playful wink before turning back out again, acting like he hasn’t said a thing.

It may be unorthodox, but it seems he’s found a new way to release all his pent up anger and frustration. This is going to be fun.

[Vladimir Misovitch]

Vlad was unsure how to take Zac's semi-flirtatious - jokingly or not - attitude. This guy asked a lot of questions, and when about to answer with something along the lines of 'gaining better control of my powers' Zac proceeded to comment that this was an inadequate response. He thought for a moment. Better control was his 'official' reason for coming, even though in truth he just wanted to be amung meta-humans - though he wouldn't let on to anyone, not even slightly, that that was his excuse. Not intentionally, at least. No, Vlad was far too proud for that. After a moment's thought he replied;
"What would be wrong with a bit of self improvement?" he felt he stumbled onto a rather strong argument here "You are proposing to a man in a gym that he would not want to better himself, you realise?"
Vlad moved onto the eights.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac simply shook his head when he heard Vlad’s answer. So that was his reason? ‘Self-improvement’? Who was he kidding? he thought, considering the boy’s supposed background. “I assume this is the part where you expect me to say ‘Touché Vlad, touché’? Sorry dude, but that’s not going to happen. At least not yet. Nice try though,” he said as he gave the boy a suggestive wink, lowering the setting to his treadmill has he prepared to cool off and end his cardio workout. While Vlad does have a point, Zac’s not ready to wave the white flag, at least not that way. He’s talking to Vlad to let him know where he (Zac) stands on this school; should he surrender this early in the conversation, he’d surely get the wrong message. If he was to let Vlad have his way, he’d rather it be subtle and not-so-much a surrender as it would be a compromise. Ish. (Indeed, everything is a battle of supremacy for Zac; and considering the rough mood he’s in the past few days, that urge is a bit heightened, so to speak).

“Self-improvement via the gym to tone your body is different from training to attain a better control of your powers.” In his book, at least. He ran for one final minute before turning it off and stretching for a bit, removing his sweat-drenched shirt in the process. “And besides, didn’t you go to Odarennyĭ? Rumor has it that aside from Eisai, it’s one of the schools that really push their students to the limit. I mean, I’ve got some Odarennyĭ alumni staff back home and they are extremely adept at using their powers.” He flashed Vlad a smug smile that, should it speak, would most likely say ‘Gotcha’.

Fortunately for Zac (and maybe for Vlad too), he realized that he may have been a little too forward with his remarks. He shouldn’t make an enemy of this guy, at least not until he prods him further. “But hey, if you don’t want to tell me about it, then don’t,” he shrugged, “I mean, I’ll just assume you’re like Antosha, staying until he’s twenty just so he could try those little boy dicks that come to school every year.”

He walked towards where Vlad is to do some bench presses, but was slightly distracted at the sight of Vlad with the eights. “Dude, you know how to do this right?” he asked, shaking his head in a mix of amusement and contempt. “Here, let me help,” he said as he went beside Vlad, grabbed his own pair of eights and started flexing his arms, smirking at Vlad in the process.

“So Vlad, since you came here to further your powers and all that, mind telling me what your powers are then?” Cliché question in a school of powered teens, but it’s not like it hurts to ask.


ooc:
Sorr if it's a little crappy. >.<
- Jam

[Vladimir Misovitch]

OOC: It is absolutely fine. Although I question how depressed he is. He does not seem - to me - to be that depressed. Although if it's more just a shitty mood I could see that. Not an insult, please don't take it that way - more constructive criticism, if you will. Anywho...


Vlad was unsure how to respond to Zac, and so he didn't. It was only when his companion said 'try those little boy dicks' did he think to respond, only to ask what he meant. Confusion crossed his face. He didn't respond straight away, however - he spent some time trying to figure out what was meant, but to no avail. In said time Zac carried on talking, and then asked about his powers. Zac was sitting on his left, so when his left arm lifted it's weight it was no longer an arm. Well, technically it was, but it was more a tentacle. A large, slimy, octopusial tentacle that was roughly the same size as his arm.
"What did you mean when you said 'try those little boy dicks'?"

[Zachary LaRousse]

It took a while for Zac to notice the change in Vladimir’s anatomy. He was, after all, a little too focused on showing the Russian boy how great and awesome he was. When his eyes did find their way to where Vlad’s arm was supposed to be, he couldn’t stop his eyes from bulging out nor his jaw from dropping in a mixture of surprise, awe and disgust. “Dude, that is so gross,” he said, absentmindedly dropping the weights on his hand (thank goodness it didn’t hit his foot), not even thinking that he might’ve offended the other guy. “So what, you’re like, an alien shape shifter or something?” Nope, to Zac, such an appendage is straight out of a B-list space movie, the one where the effects and storylines are so bad, it is only rivaled by the actors’ ridiculous acting and the equally absurd title. “Can I touch it?” Zac asked, extending his index finger out as he tried to tell himself not to flinch nor vomit if he wants not to look like a weakling.

“Pfft. Stop kidding with me Vlad. You don’t like you’re just interacting in English for the first time. Don’t tell me you don’t know what ‘dick’ means.” And there he goes again, thinking that the world is as he sees it. Sorry Vlad. “If you must know, Antosha’s a Russian whore who’ll do anything to taste a guy’s ass. Or be pounded, same banana. He’s been stalking me since I came here. So pathetic really.” Vanity. Just one of Zac’s trademark characteristics. He gave Vlad’s butt a playful pat before saying, “Better watch your back then bro, unless you swing that way, of course.”


ooc:
Pfft. Don't worry much about it. I guess I got you a little confused and all that, sorry 'bout that.
He's depressed, but it manifests more as a shitty, irritated demeanour than the whole sad-cry-sulk one, if that makes any sense. Vlad's presence is giving him an ok distraction really.
- Jam