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[idkmybffsean]

[Joe hasn't been in the kitchen this past week. In fact, he's been keeping to himself far more than usual and what conversations he has had have been with his brother. Each day, he finds himself in the gym, throwing himself into his old boxing regime from years ago and effectively beating the snot out of the punching bags on offer.

Knuckles bound,

Comments

[skinbrand]

[Avoiding a conflict and the repercussions of her actions is so unnatural for Nel that it's a certified miracle for her to avoid him for an entire week. Or decline to pursue him when he avoids her, depending on how you look at it. The end result is the same; the bad blood stays bad and nothing is resolved.

She's caught him in the gym before. Those times Nel would slip away before he'd seen her, so as not to interrupt Joe or ruin the haven for him.

She won't retreat at the first sight of him, today. The woman, clad in offworlder blue jeans, her utility belt and a black turtleneck, parks by the entrance to the gymnasium and leans there without further approach. Nel waits for a break in the hitting before steeling her guard -- to do this, she can't let him under her skin like he's been.]

Joe?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe freezes at the sound of his name, knowing that voice far too well and finding it one that he both wants and hates to hear. Relaxed and ready as he might of been just moments ago, Joe tenses immediately. He turns from the bag to look back at the woman in the door.

He doesn't answer right away, not does his expression shift from a stern frown.]

What?

[skinbrand]

[Assessing his posture and attitude is ingrained habit. Nel only responds once she's ascertained that her guard IS up and she doesn't focus on him more than appropriate.]

I want to apologize, if you'll hear me?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe heaves a sigh and turns from the bag, pacing while he adjusts the wraps on his knuckles and heads for the speed bag. As he goes, he gives Nel a lazy wave.]

Still got two reps to do. Y'can talk while I do that or wait until I'm done.

[Joe's taking his training seriously. It's a bit of a dick move on his behalf to not properly stop and listen right away, but in the same breath, Joe is training to do what she insisted he might someday fail at.

That said, Joe starts a series of small, fast paced and relatively quiet hits on the smaller bag.]

[skinbrand]

[The tiniest of nods, which he might not see. In which case her silence should speak volumes.

Nel waits until he finishes, out of respect and out of the knowledge that she's earned her share of rudeness for using that kind of tactic on him. Her palms rest behind her hips and she observes his routine with the -- hopefully cool and disengaged -- appraisal of a sergeant.]

[idkmybffsean]

[When it's clear she isn't going to speak just yet, Joe amps up the workout to it's usual pace. The sound of fists on the bag increases as the hits get a little harder.

When he's finally done, Joe steps back from the bag, breathing heavy and scoops up his towel and water bottle. His face earns a quick wipe over before the towel is slung over his shoulder. Pacing slowly while he cools down, Joe sips at the bottle and turns his gaze to Nel.]

[skinbrand]

[If he's ready, so is she. Nel pushes away from the wall so that she isn't lazily bracing against it.

Now or never. Head-on eye contact is a must.]

I'm sorry for mistreating you, and for crossing a line. Good intentions don't justify manipulating you.

[idkmybffsean]

[He meets her eyes but doesn't speak just yet. There's a moment of silence before he sighs, drops the bottle and the towel and turns his attention to the wraps on his hands. When Joe does finally reply, it's a weary, sterner than usual rumble.]

Y'don't do that kind of shit to friends, Nel. I know you were an agent or spy or somethin' back home, but work and friends are and remain two very different things.

[skinbrand]

[She realized as much not moments after playing on his worries by the pool. Her guard is supposed to be up.

It doesn't seem to matter. There's an extremely uncomfortable burning in her gut, and a suspicious ache she's not even going to dignify with acknowledgment. Her chin dips.]

I know. It's on me for making that mistake.

[Leaving it there sits unwell. Nel hovers.] That's as far as words can carry me. If there's a way for me to make it up to you otherwise, I'd like to know.

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe watches her a moment more and shakes his head, smirking a little.]

Stop bein' so formal and don't pull that kinda stunt again and we're good.

[He thinks. Joe's still mad, but she's admitted her wrongs so it's time for him to let that anger go. It's easier said than done. Hand unwrapped, Joe inspects his knuckles for splits and bruises.]

How's the kitchen runnin'?

[skinbrand]

[Her abilities make sure that Nel is aware of his remaining anger. She can't shut off her awareness of him (or anyone else), so rather than focus on it, she zeroes in on his knuckles.

Somehow, offering to inspect them seems like a bad idea. At this point, that is.]

It's running. [He said to quit with the formalities. A small jest couldn't hurt?] Filled to the brim with upstart young men trying to replace the only other cook.

[idkmybffsean]

Oh really now.

[His knuckles aren't too bad, considering what he's been putting them through the past week. Joe's hands are steadily returning to their hard, calloused, rough, working state and that is quite fine with him.]

So long as Kevas is doin' his fockin' job and throwin' them out on their asses then I guess I don't have a problem with that.

[skinbrand]

[She nods soberly.]

I did my best to clean up after him, but I may have missed a blood spray here or there.

[Joe is in excellent condition. Even if he hadn't been shirtless and showing visible muscular improvement since they'd last spoken (slight, but there), Nel could see it just from the way he moves. She toys with the proposal on the tip of her tongue for a moment.]

... Up for a skirmish?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe might have almost smiled at that.]

You ain't seen the kitchen I used to run. A little blood splatter here and there isn't a bother.

[And then she asks for a fight. He frowns slightly and looks her in the eye.]

And just do ya mean by that?

[skinbrand]

[Asking is a long shot. In a manner of speaking, she wants to show Joe just how high the measure of her respect for him is by not holding back.

She also knows how unsteady the ground she's walking is. Nel tongues behind her teeth, thinking.]

Your pacing and control is superb-- no pressure.

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe watches her in silence for a few seconds more and makes an almost amused sound. He'd like to think she's genuine, but there's enough friction between the pair for him to not be entirely sure.

He shakes his head and reaches for his bag, digging out his smokes. This conversation is making the nicotine cravings kick in.]

Some other time, yeah?

[Joe lights up and takes a long drag.]

Been trainin' like I used to. M'not gonna fock anything up.