You'd Better Shape Up [Backdated to August 8]

[witnessme]

Who: Nux and Nathan
Where: Shepherd's Haven
When: Backdated to August 8
What: Nux has it in his head that all of Nathan's problems exist because he needs to prioritize physical fitness, and Nathan is a doormat who found himself committing to an early-morning 2 mile run.
Status: Ongoing/Closed



Multiple-mile runs aren't unusual for Nux. He loves being in movement, breathing heavy and hard and feeling that spent weakness that means he'll be stronger tomorrow. It's something he feels like improving their body is something anyone can do, regardless of talent or mental acuity. All that matters is determination, willpower and consistency, all things he happens to be really good at.

At 5:45 he's at Nathan's cabin, shirtless despite the chill and already warmed up. "Hey! Nathan!" he says, knocking vigorously on the door a few times. "Hope you had some eggs or something and stretched! It's time to go!

It'll be weird with the ghosts floating around, but hey. So far they haven't attacked anyone.

Comments

[solvethepuzzle]

Whereas multiple-mile runs are a foreign concept to Nathan, who had been relieved the first year he'd no longer been required to take physical education classes at school.

He is not, at least, entirely unaccustomed to waking up early. He'd done it rather a lot during his childhood, though that was admittedly to have some time to himself and get everything ready for the day before his father woke up. Early mornings had usually been the most peaceful times in the house. As long as he'd been quiet. Generally, that much had not been a problem.

So he is awake and fed before the appointed time, passing the last few minutes adding to the fortress he'd started building out of playing cards. He'd picked up multiple decks months ago for expressly this purpose. He startles a bit at the knocking, but fortunately manages to keep himself from unbalancing the structure.

He gets the resigned sigh out of the way before opening the door, looking as unimpressive as he always does. Nathan is very much not looking forward to this. But he'd promised. "Yes, I'm ready."

[witnessme]

Nux's face lights up happily when he sees that Nathan isn't still sleeping and thereby standing him up. "Morning!" He greets brightly, rolling his shoulders, breath puffing in clouds before his mouth as a result of the nippy morning air. "Knew you'd come through. This is going to be awesome!"

He's so anxious to get going that he's already jogging in place. "You want to do our pushup sets before or after we get back, hey?"

[solvethepuzzle]

No, Nathan is quite sure this is going to be terrible. He'd only agreed to this in order for the previous day's awkward conversation to stop. How Nux had failed to understand what he'd been saying . . . he still has not worked that out.

Blink, blink. "Pushup sets?"

This had not been mentioned yesterday. He'd already been internally wincing at a two mile run and now suddenly pushups on top of that?

[witnessme]

"Of c-course! Pushups are like the perfect exercise, Nathan. They work your shoulders, your arms, your pecs and your core. I like to drop and do fifty before and after my run. Won't take but a second!"

With that, he's totally dropping and starting to do pushups one after the other in a smooth unbroken chain.

[solvethepuzzle]

Won't take but a second. For Nux, perhaps. If Nathan tries that, they will be on his doorstep all day.

He remains standing, expression more than vaguely uncertain. "We didn't discuss this yesterday."

The run is going to be difficult enough on him. He does not see how he could possibly handle the rest of this. Easy enough for Nux to do all of this; he is accustomed to it. Nathan will drop quickly if he even tries to go at the same pace.

[witnessme]

Nux grunts as his body raises and lowers, counting as he goes.

"Try a few if you want... No... Thirty four! Skin off my nose if you don't want to yet. Thirty five!"

Fifteen pushups later, he's hopping up, stretching his arms enthusiastically. "Aw, yeah! So pumped. Ready to go? I'll keep the pace slower today so you can keep up; distance running is slower anyway, don't worry!"

[solvethepuzzle]

Oh, thank goodness he doesn't have to try them. Yet. Just how long has he signed on for? He . . . really is going to have to say something eventually, isn't he? Perhaps he can figure it out along the way.

"I think it is better if I wait." What would be better in his mind is if he never does them in his entire life. "I . . . suppose I am, yes."

He is not ready. He can't be.

[witnessme]

"I've got a route and everything. I do this every morning," Nux says proudly. "Come on, then, let's get to it! Breathe through your nose and out through your mouth! If you can't keep going... keep going! Then stop."

He starts off at a jog that's slow for him but probably more than brisk enough to challenge Nathan.

[solvethepuzzle]

"Every morning?"

Please tell him that he is not expected to keep that kind of schedule. He absolutely, positively cannot do this every day. It would be physically impossible for him. He is not built for this and is frankly unable to picture a day where he actually would be.

... Keep going if he can't keep going and then stop? Nathan is having difficulty trying to work out what that even means.

One last sigh as Nux starts off, and Nathan has little choice but to follow suit. The pace is difficult for him to keep up with, especially considering his shorter strides. In fact, he could hardly even be said to be keeping up; he's fairly well behind.

[witnessme]

"Yeah!" he confirms, not even a little bit breathless yet. "Worked my way up to it, of course, doesn't just happen overnight. It's all about consistency! Conditioning!"

He notices that Nathan's lagging behind and cuts his pace down a little; he tries to keep it looking natural, but for all intents and purposes, he might as well be running in slow motion.

Not that he lets it affect his mood. "You're doing great! Keep at it, Nathan!"