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Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val had texted the current group chat to see if anyone was up for a late night freerun. Just hanging out, taking about life stuff, general chill. She posted a good spot to get onto the roofs for interested, and was there and doing stretches beforehand. A 40 pack of water bottles set up too.
Asbolus:
Sleep had been elusive for whatever reason on this particular evening, so the text from Val offered Asbolus a plan for the evening rather than simply letting the city lead him where it wished.
The Darkling arrived promptly as was his wont, dressed casually to befit the evening’s activities. He flexed his hands briefly once he made it up on the rooftop, looking one over like he was checking it for something before moving to join Val. "Evening."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She was also dressed casually, some gymnast competition shirt and comfy pants, she whipped around in a smile when Asbolus arrived.
"Ay! Someone showed up. Come on over, I got water, stretch as ya need, all that jazz. Um...Asbolus right? Avery's friend? Just making sure I got people right."
Asbolus:
"Right in one." He nodded with a small smirk, claiming a bottle for himself before joining her in the pre-run stretch. Even the preternaturally dexterous could pull a muscle, after all. "How have you been since we last talked?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
The preternaturally resilient were struggling to figure out their limits, so stretched extra just in case.
"Ayyy, glad I got it. Been pretty good. Just kinda vibing. Got a good job, loving girlfriend, amazing teacher. Well...teachers now? Starting to get into learning more about this side of stuff so I'm not entirely clueless. How bout you?"
Asbolus:
"I've been well enough, all things considered. Had a few troubles pop up but they've been smoothed out for the most part."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Thats good. Do I get to know the troubles or is that friends only."
A silly smile, just joking, and takes a swig of her own water.
Asbolus:
Asbolus smirked in return, carefully opening his bottle before taking a sip. "Have you and your partner spoken much on what changes can come as the power within her grows?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Nottttt really? Ive tried not to press. I know your stuff is pretty private so...gotta be careful with it."
Asbolus:
"Not a bad thing, that." He nodded quietly. "I had a page turn in my own story recently and it came with some additional physical changes that I hadn't expected. Adjusting to them has had its ups and downs, but I feel like I'm at the point where they're manageable."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ahhhh gotcha. Stuff I can't see I'm guessing? Glad it's getting manageable, being uncomfy with how your body moves...fucking sucks, can tell you that much."
Asbolus:
"Correct, and indeed it does. How have you been faring on that front lately, on that note?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Uh...got one of the Wizards to get the metal outta my knee so..."
She looks around to make sure there was no one on the roof besides them, she'd already checked for cameras...and jumps 12ish feet in the air, landing softly in a crouch.
"Feeling way better. That one was just to show off though."
Asbolus:
"Good to hear." He nodded, watching her curiously before his eyebrows shot upwards at the same time she did. "Very impressive..."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She smiles.
"Like I said, just showing off. I am plenty good without needing that."
She shakes out her limbs a bit.
"You about ready to start or need another minute?"
Asbolus:
"Indeed." He nodded, returning the smile. "Ready when you are."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Well then! What are we waiting for!"
She gestures to the next building, a ton of scaffolding, exposed pipes, and the like. Perfect to show off whatever your wanted to do.
Asbolus:
"Nothing, it seems." He chuckled, getting into position before making a gesture to the urban jungle gym in front of them. "Ladies first."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Me? A lady? Never." She takes off towards the course, showing impressive upper body strenth as she practically threw herself through the air. A little cautious but overall, quite amazing. And she was holding back it looked like.
Asbolus:
While Val held back Asbolus allowed all the grace and finesse he has to bear to be clearly seen, his raw skill improved beyond the last time they had run against each other. He seemed to slice through the air as he leapt between the buildings, easily catching the scaffolding and pulling himself up towards the next handhold effortlessly.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She watched in a bit of amazement, the fluidity breathtaking. She pushed up a bit to be within earshot.
"So, what got you into freerunning? For me it was just a more chill way to practice for competitions, helped me feel more confident in the air."
Asbolus:
"The freedom of movement it allows, for one." He replied, smiling a touch as he pressed on through the pipes, keeping pace with her to stay in earshot. "I was built for the chase during my time Away, and pursuing it myself rather than being forced to was a way to reclaim it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ah...didn't mean to hit any buttons or anything." Another impressive leap.
"Taking it into your own hands and enjoying it though? Props, that takes some bravery." A smile in his direction.
Asbolus:
"You didn't yet, so no harm no foul." He gave a little nod as she smiled his way, keeping his eyes on the course ahead. "Thank you. I struggle with falling back into old instincts if I get particularly involved in a run - as you've seen yourself - but it does more good in the long run, as I see it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Anything I need to avoid in the meantime? But yeah...was kinda intense." She keeps her eyes forward after as well.
Asbolus:
"Not that would be pertinent at the moment, I don't think. Thank you for asking, though."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Of course. I don't know everything about...well what you guys go through...but I get trauma. Asking can help a lot I find."
Asbolus:
"Indeed it does, and the fact that you take that into account speaks highly of you."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She nods.
"Uh...I mean I got some, my dad's got some. My mom probably has some I don't know about. I've dealt with it in my own ways, most of them not healthy. Just having someone there means a lot too."
She catches a pole.
"As much as a dumbass as he is, Vincent was that person for me, and I'll appreciate him for forever about it."
Asbolus:
Asbolus followed suit, continuing to move along smooth as silk as they made their way across the rooftop. "Vincent is a young man who is still finding his way, but he tends to those he cares about and that puts him higher in my book than most."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Yeah, all that jazz. He fresturates me too at time cause he's an overprotective shit, but he does care. Thats something I admire about him, he'd do anything for those he cares about. Heck, he got his sister into college from living on the streets."
Asbolus:
"Good to hear. If only he would think more about what steps he takes before he makes them." He offered with a small smirk.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"That's...never been his strong suit. More of a 'react to things as they come' dude which is probably his downfall. I hope he gets better at it though."
Asbolus:
"One can hope. He stepped on a rather large trigger of mine recently, and with any luck he won't do so again."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Mmmm fuck. Well if he didn't already, I'm apologizing for him. Thats another reason I ask, I know not only does that fuck with your heads, but I know I don't appreciate when people hit those things, so I doubt any of you like it either."
Asbolus:
"He did, thankfully, I will give him that." He nodded quietly. "Not in the slightest. It can cause us to lose connection with the world around us if it's especially egregious."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Thank fuck. I'm glad he did... but yeah, I've seen it sometimes in Liv. If there's ever anything I can do to help that, I will. Or I'll try. I'm still like, mostly human so probably shouldn't go making 'I will' statements, huh."
Asbolus:
"Up to you. A promise can be empowered if the need arises, though, with a detriment to those that break it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Yeah, so like...I should be careful about that? Especially hanging out with the Lost. Pretty sure Petra or Teagan would love to catch me on some of those things."
Asbolus:
"Most of us don't do so lightly as to cheapen the weight of said promises, but if you speak truly of your intentions it shouldn't be that much of an issue. How well you watch your words is up to you."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Thaaaaats sorta my problem. These things I mean, yeah. But I also tend to speak faster than I think. Don't wanna fall into the like...ya know 'can I have your name' thing or anything."
Asbolus:
"Ah. That takes more than most of us can muster for the most part, so you should be fine there. We do take promises seriously, though, especially as we grow closer to the power that infuses them."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"I gotcha, yeah. I'll try to focus on that a bit more."
She looks over. "How ya feeling by the way. I don't...really get tired anymore so just wanna check in."
Asbolus:
"Doing alright at the moment, although I may need to take a break soon."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Yeah of course, just tell me when."
She vaults somewhere else, then immedietly back into ear shot.
"So uh...if I can ask. What all can you do? If I'm not allowed thats chill."
Asbolus:
Asbolus smirked as she moved ahead, if briefly, thinking a moment at the question posed. "A fair bit, admittedly. Most of the abilities I've acquired are tied to movement or masking myself or others to slip into situations without being noticed, along with an offensive trick or two."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ah so you're like...quick and sneaky. Thats cool!" She grabs a bar and moves into a handstand, then a one handed handstand.
"Like I said before I dont really get tired physically. Mentally yeah, I still gotta sleep and such, but I could probably be out freerunnung all night if I was chill during the day. And its pretty hard to hurt me. That's like...most of my stuff to be honest, a few little things otherwise. I just find all the like...different things people can do to be pretty cool. Ya know?"
Asbolus:
"Indeed. I can show you one particularly clever trick once we reach a wall that isn't easily visible from outside the area." He smiled as she went for the handstand, nodding in agreement. "It is, I agree. And quite the wide variety between the lot of us, as well."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Rightttt? Especially the wizards."
She looks down and towards the city.
"Uh...right? I think theres a pretty enclosed area...." she rotates to be able to point. An impressive feat of upper body strength. "Thatta way?"
Asbolus:
He glanced towards where she pointed, looking over it for a moment before nodding. "Good a place as any. Shall we?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Sure! Always down to learn about shit like this." She starts heading that direction, trying to race him.
Asbolus:
Even the supernaturally gifted have bad days, it seems, as when the pair took off for the races Asbolus only made it a leap or two before his grip on the pipe he planned to use as his next vaulting point suddenly loosened, sending him tumbling into the gap between the two buildings!
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She had started taking off, and saw the slip, it took her a second to change directions. Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck...
Asbolus:
By the time Val got to the edge to look for where Asbolus had inevitably splatted, she instead found the Darkling in a tight crouch a few feet down standing on the wall, apparently needing a moment to compose himself after that near miss. "Sorry if I spooked you." He said with a wry smirk. "That wasn't quite how I wanted to show you this..."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Oh thank fuck. I was just kicking myself cause I remembered I had a new thing that if I thought in time woulda saved ya and was panicking I killed ya or something with that. Thank fuck. Also...holy fuck. Um sir, not sure if ya know but gravity is THAT way."
She chuckled nervously.
Asbolus:
"No harm no foul, thankfully." He nodded, chuckling in kind. "Indeed it is, at least for most."
With that he stood and walked up the wall, going full David Bowie at the end of Labyrinth with the last step and flipping upright onto the ledge and the roof proper. "Rather handy trick, no?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She climbs along with, blinking.
"Y e a h! Jealous! I can climb pretty well but thats...wow. But yeah, ill keep that ability more on my mind for future runs. Lets me move like...super fast in short bursts but it's exhausting. Like...a lot. Just don't want someone who can't do uh...that to fall and get hurt."
Asbolus:
"A good call, that. Keeping the capabilities of those around you in mind is an important step to take, especially as one proceeds further from the baseline."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She gets back to the rooftop and pulls herself up, bending over and sighing.
"Thank you for uh...not dying on me there. And yeah. Good lesson to have."
Asbolus:
"Very welcome. The fall likely wouldn't have killed me but it wouldn't have been pleasant." He glanced back down into the alleyway, shaking his head before looking back to Val. "If anything it's a good reminder that one can still make mistakes when a skill goes past mortal kenning."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She looks down as well.
"Very much. Even top of the line athletes make mistakes." Was she talking about herself? Who knows.
"I'm just glad you're okay. You are okay, right? You need anything? A hug, a deep breath, a burger? I know a good burger place nearby."
Asbolus:
"A little startled, but otherwise fine." He did hold an arm out for a hug, though, because why not. "I don't eat meat, actually, but if they have a vegetarian option I'm up for it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She gives a good one arm hug. She's a good hugger.
"Oh shit, yeah sorry shoulda asked. Uhhhhh, I dunno actually, but I'm totally down to go elsewhere too. I love trying new food."
Asbolus:
He thought a moment, scanning the skyline to place where they were in the city before nodding. "There's a decent Indian place not too far from here if you're interested. Think they should still be open."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ohhhh yes. So down. My mouth is gonna burn, ain't it."
Asbolus:
"Possibly." He chuckled, heading for the nearest fire escape to get back onto solid ground in a much safer manner that his last unintentional attempt. "They're willing to test all comers on that front."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val, meanwhile, was still a bit adventurous, and backflips off the roof, catching a few bars on the way down and landing in a spiderman pose, just cause she could.
"Betttt. I'm so down. Lets go!"
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