001✖; (video @hot.damn)

[circumitus]

[It's rare that Rey lets herself be seen on the network... because of reasons. While not too defined, the scar-faced woman sports various snake-like traits of Sanguis, her skin splotched by spiky maroon scales and green eyes with slitted pupils being more piercing than they would be normally.

[What more, she doesn't appear to be hanging out in any abode of her own (though some might recognize her as the thief burglarizing people's homes and stealing their food and monopolizing showers). Despite the biting winter chill, she's hanging out at the Greatmoon Groves in a tanktop and no jacket. Somehow, she doesn't even shiver when she speaks:]

"Been working on this thing called 'trying not to starve and die' and guess Moonlacing's supposed to help not do that. Handholding only gets you so far before one of us gets tired of sweaty palms, so looking for other options under the right conditions.

"First, not down to fuck some random, so don't ask and don't expect a dicking on the first date. Not into that, anyway.

"Second, if this is our first conversation, then we meet in public. That way we can figure whether our shit's going to work out or not.

"Third, respect boundaries or perish. Think this one goes without saying, but just putting that out there." [Judging from her rigid stature and musculature and the fact that she can likely grind someone's bones into red candy, she means that.]

"Anyway, heard that fighting each other works for Chroma as well, long as both parties consent. Would like to stay sharp--" [and not get her ass thrown by another GODDAMN robot again] "--so looking for people who aren't made out of gelato that can handle that. Am pretty strong, so don't be gelato.

"Want to go somewhere outside but you're too chickenshit to brave the cold? Can help keep you warm or whatever, too." [Is that why she's not bundled up despite the weather? Why yes, yes it is.

[...Is there anything else she's missing? She's not used to being this long-winded-- Oh, right:]

"Name's Rey, by the way. Should've probably started with that, not knowing who most of you motherfuckers are and all.

"So yeah, that's all."

Comments

[amemoryorus]

[Tifa is leaning against the wall near the entrance to the gym, arms clasped behind her. But once she spots Rey coming towards her, she pushes away from the wall, a delighted smile forming on her face.]

This is it.

[She turns towards the door, pulling it open.]

We're going to the mat room at the back. Come on.

[The gym is modest in size, but it's filled with exercise and training equipment that all appears to be in good shape. Despite being in the shadier part of the city, it's clear whoever runs the place keeps it in good repair.]

[circumitus]

[Rey ventures forward, trying to ignore the awkward feeling of meeting someone you just spoke to over text for the first time. It's not like she has anything to be embarrassed about; this is just a good old fashioned spar, not a booty call. It's fine. She's fine. Everything is just -- fine.

[Scratching the side of her neck in thought, Rey takes in the sight of the gym, and tries to muster an appropriate opinion.]

...

Wasn't sure what to expect, but it's not bad.

[And pause.] Someone tell you about this place or were you just seeking out gyms in the ass cracks of the city?

[amemoryorus]

[Tifa leads them through the main room of the gym, nodding and waving to a couple of people here and there. It's clear that she's recognized among the other frequent visitors. She's just reaching out for the door that opens into the mat room when Rey makes her comment, and Tifa laughs as she pushes the door open.

The mat room is slightly smaller than the main room, and the floor is entirely covered by a matted surface. Tifa pauses in the doorway.]

I've bounced around a couple of gyms throughout the city. I like this one because it doesn't get as busy as one of the more reputable gyms. And the equipment works just as well as anything you'd find in a higher level gym.

You don't mind sparring barefoot, do you? It's better for the mats, and if we're doing this for Chroma I figure the more bare skin the better.

[circumitus]

[Rey makes a point to take note of her surroundings, the type of clientele that she suspects frequents this place, and then some. So far it's not as bad as she was expecting, and as long as this isn't leading into some trap, then it's all the same to her.]

That's... a pretty good reason, actually.

[There aren't that many people she feels comfortable being around when she's fighting; oftentimes she's destructive and a hazard to be around. While she does her best to keep property damage to a minimum, it's not something she can absolutely promise to anyone.

[She nods, already untying the laces of her hefty combat boots.] Makes sense. Don't get many chances to take these off, anyway.

[Other than when she showers and does laundry, Rey tends to sleep in her clothes, always ready.]

[amemoryorus]

[Tifa slips out of her boots, putting them off to one side, and motioning for Rey to do the same. Then she makes for the middle of the mats, throwing her body into a few warm-up stretches.]

Why is that?

[Rey's comment about her shoes peaks her curiosity, simply because Tifa never passes up the opportunity to free her feet. Especially when she's at home. Maybe Rey isn't the same way.]

I like to start off with a bit of stretching, just to be safe. Is there any way you like to warm up?

[circumitus]

[Having a body that's made to be always combat-ready, stretches aren't always necessary. But there is the side of her that once believed she was human, from squads with comrades and even people who relied on her that made a habit out of it. She was never one of them, even if soldiers had an almost tribal like bond with one another, but she still pretended...

[So it's easy to fall into that routine again, discarding her boots before proceeding into a couple lunge stretches she used to do.]

Well, don't spend a lot of time indoors. Probably not good to walk around barefoot, either.

[It's close enough to the truth that it's not an outright lie. She just doesn't have to say upfront that she's living outdoors because the thought of moving in somewhere feels as if she's making roots, which has never worked out well for her -- or the places she had stayed.]

Not really. Usually just... jump right into it, but haven't done formal sparring in lifetimes.

[Literally.]