[open/active] If you like it innovative Better get someone creative honey

[godofcologne]

Characters: Thomas Raith, anyone who wants to run into him
Time: Daytime
Location: Blackstone Hotel: Charity's forge, the lobby, in the halls, gym, etc
Content: One vampire, armed to the teeth, wandering around the Blackstone Hotel. Because this'll end well.
Format: Poster's choice. Prose/commentspam/whatevs.
Warning: Beware of Thomas.
Notes: Multiple

Comments

[becauseimboring]

"Well, you can either stick around and spot, find me someone to spot, or shut up," Clare wasn't normally this rude with people. Clare also wasn't normally talking to people that fed on her friend. Clare did a few more repetitions with the weight she had before pausing to get a drink of water and consider adding more weight.

She should just take it easy today, and shouldn't add weight just because she's angry at Thomas for all sorts of reasons. Small patches of frost formed on the five pound weights she added to each side before returning to position. She tested it a few moments before starting again. This was definitely working muscles and was difficult, but she could handle some repetitions fine. "My sword is too heavy, so unless I can magically make the thing light I have to work on my upper body strength. It'd be nice to have more options to wield it, like one handed," why was he at this hotel anyway? couldn't he break chairs anywhere, especially not here.

[godofcologne]

"I prefer being able to say 'I told you so' when you hurt yourself, personally," came the insufferable answer as Thomas crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

"Besides, your best bet is to work with the sword."

[becauseimboring]

"Good, I'd rather say 'I didn't need you' when I'm done," Clare answered haughtily as she got back to her exercises.

"And," Clare's words were dispersed among reps, some grunts of effort as she pushed the weight up, "I do plenty of work with my sword. It doesn't recharge my ring as well as this."

[godofcologne]

The mention of the ring got Clare a disbelieving look. "You mean you're still using Lara's ring?" he asked, surprise obvious in his voice as he watched Clare continue, ignoring his warning. "You're either braver than I gave you credit for or more naive."

It was clear from his tone that neither was a compliment.

[becauseimboring]

"You," Clare's words were still dispersed by the effort of repetitions, "are not. A weak. Human. Girl. In a. World full. Of monsters." She punctuated the last last two words by putting the bar back in its hold, "Like You!"

"It isn't bravery nor is it naiveté," Clare sat up, taking a moment's rest before she continues, or moves to another exercise. "It's desperation. I need whatever I can work with to survive, and it isn't like throwing the ring into a lake will undo my deal or my debt. I can't get stronger by having sex with teenage girls."

Clare glared at Thomas, because she was tired of people deciding for her, chiding her for mistakes she couldn't know were wrong, because of information they failed to make public. Especially from the monster that fed on her friend, who neglected to mention what he was and what his sister was like. Mrs. Carpenter and Ms. Murphy were bad enough, to get it from Thomas was just out and out not going to stand.

[godofcologne]

If Thomas had realized he was in agreement with Charity Carpenter and Karrin Murphy, he would have passed out from shock. As it were, he simply shrugged again, the motion practiced and careless. It might have been infuriating, to see how little Clare's angry words had affected him. "Desperation's easy to manipulate, sweetheart," he said. "It makes you more willing to take risks, to do things you normally wouldn't."

When it didn't seem like Clare was going to continue with the bench press just yet, Thomas picked up his duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Take it from someone who knows how it's done."

[becauseimboring]

"There are many kinds of desperation," Clare eyed him a moment, before moving back to position to do a few more repetitions, "Hunger would be one of them, wouldn't it?"

"I have two choices, live with the bad choice I made or ignore it," Clare started pushing the weights up and down, a little less forcefully than before, "What purpose does ignoring it serve me?"