[OOM: The Gym]

[mnt_raph]

*The first door on the left as you leave Milliways and head down the Staff Hallway leads to a gym.
The room contains a collection of various and sundry pieces of sporting and exercise equipment. Weighted bags hang from the ceiling, one wall is lined with mirror, while the floors are covered in a layer of mat.

At one point in time this room was the home of a punished ex turtle.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Raph is currently jumping rope.*

Comments

[slayer_fray]

Mel peeks into the room, and notices that there's only one occupant, so she enters, pulling the door shut behind her, locking it and descreting the key in one of the secret pockets around her person.

Then she leans on the door and watches Raph, waiting for him to notice her.

[mnt_raph]

*Raph knows someone is there, but he continues to jump. Every now and again the rope crosses.

Red scars appear and disappear as his tanktop moves. Against the mirrored portion of the wall rests his weapon belt.

Raph is unarmed.*

[slayer_fray]

Mel is never unarmed. Her not'scythe hangs casually from one hand, her arms folded across the chest.

It's not a threatening posture, but a patient one. Which is all very well because she's still running her planned words over in her head.

She watches him, both in the flesh and in the mirrors. They're useful like that.

[mnt_raph]

Gyms're for workin' out, not for gawkin'.

[slayer_fray]

Her scythe is put down, resting next to the door.

She ignores the sentence.

"I had a twin brother. Harth, his name was. He wasn't as strong as me, or as fast. Fact, he was pretty much not physical all round. But I looked out for him. Took care of him. He was my brother, y'know?"

[mnt_raph]

*The rope stops moving, before being dropped to the ground in a tangled mess. He lifts up the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face, and then turns to look at her.*

Yup.

[slayer_fray]

"When we were fourteen I took him out onna grab. Probably shouldda known better but I was cocky. Convinced I could handle myself and look out for him. Told him he was a scaredy for worrying. Made fun of him.

"We ran into a lurk. Biggest one I've ever seen. Tried to take him on, but he had more experience, was a better fighter. And Harth - Harth wouldn't run. Eventually the creep called him to him and threw me off the roof. Every night in my dreams I still hear my brother's neck crunching under his teeth."

[mnt_raph]

Might want to talk to Morpheus about that.

*Raph heads towards one of the heavy bags.*

[slayer_fray]

"Not gonna. I want to keep them. That's not the point.

"'Bout a year ago, I got kidnapped by a buncha lurks and dragged off to their leader's hangout. For the usual evil nemesis taunting session. 'I will bring the old ones back, I am the One who Will Lead. Everyone you love will die screaming', that kinda thing. Thing is, of course, that their new big bad leader, he's my brother. The one I'd gotten killed five years before. Some vampire's walking around wearing Harth's dead body like a suit."

[mnt_raph]

An' that right there's why I hate leeches.

Any reason you're tellin' me this?

[slayer_fray]

"I'm the Slayer," she concludes. "I'm gonna hafta kill him as soon as I work up the guts to do so.

"And now you know why I reacted the way I did. Your go."

[mnt_raph]

*Raph blinks*

What? Yeah, I don't think so. But it was a nice story. Ending could use work.

[slayer_fray]

"Uh huh," she says, standing now. "That's cute."

[mnt_raph]

Well you know, I strive for your approval.

[slayer_fray]

"Not lookin' to approve of you. I'm lookin' for a reason not to tell Mikey exactly what happened."

[mnt_raph]

*Confusion. Realization. Numb. Indifference.*

What you tell him's your business.

*He turns back towards the bag. There's no way.*

[slayer_fray]

"Well, it's not, really, is it? S'not my business at all. It's between you and him.

"And apparently between Largeman and Xander as well."

[mnt_raph]

*His shoulders tense, and not just because he's about to throw one hell of a punch. No, Raph is emotional.

And all emotions dissolve into anger.*

[slayer_fray]

"Oh, relax, he didn't tell him anything. Mike's convinced Xander he was talking about the wrench incident."

She's taken a step forward now. She's not really lcose enough to Raph for him to hit her, but she's not in the slightest bit afraid.

[mnt_raph]

*Does anyone ever relax when told to do so? Doubtful. Though if it does, I'm sure it's with the same frequency as people who don't actually look down, when told not to.*

What do you want Fray?

[slayer_fray]

"I want to know what you did to him. That's all."

[mnt_raph]

Who the fuck are you to ask me somethin' like that?

[slayer_fray]

"I'm the one who's actually spun enough to lock you in a room with me until you tell me. Because you're clearly not telling the only person you need to."

[mnt_raph]

*At this Raph laughs, and laughs hard.*

You really don't think a little door lock is gonna keep me in here if I don't wanna be?

[slayer_fray]

She shrugs.

"Not really, no."