(Untitled)

[palmthemoon]

There's a peace that comes from working out. A way to turn your brain off by pushing your muscles farther than they want to go. Count out reps in your head lets the whole world narrow down to the burn in his shoulders, the bar under his palms, the sweat slick on his bare back

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[the2ndwonder]

Donna had been hiking through the jungle to try and get her mind off - well. Her mind. She'd seen someone doing pull-ups and her mouth quirked into a smile, remembering the way she'd trained with the Titans as she'd been growing up.

When he'd dropped to the ground, she cleared her throat. "Is this whole setup yours?" She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her shorts, raising her eyebrows before she smiled. "I'm Donna."

[palmthemoon]

Shadow gave her a nod as he wiped the towel over his brow and then against the back of his neck. "Yeah, it is."

He knew the nice thing to do would be to haul it all up to the rec center or something- but it was nice to have it all so close to him. To say nothing of the bitch of transport.

"Shadow. I'd shake your hand, but I'm gross at the moment."

[the2ndwonder]

Donna shook her head. "Believe me, not gross. It's actually pretty normal for me, back home." She scrubbed the back of her hand over her forehead, getting rid of the beads of sweat there. Cross-jungle hike wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but not the sort of thing that he'd been doing.

"Besides, if you're gross, I am, too." She smiled again, and then looked back at the way she came. "Where pretty much are we? I mean... this is going to sound weird, but I have a really bad sense of direction when I'm on foot." Usually, by air, she could figure out where she was going just by getting high enough that she could see what she was looking for.

[palmthemoon]

"Only makes sense to work out during the hottest part of the day. Get as gross as possible." But between the building crew, Karen, and the rest of his life, he was left doing it whenever he could spare the time. Smiling slightly, Shadow reached for his t-shirt and tugged it over his head.

"Yeah, you're just a bit outside the hamlet, right by the World Tree. You head that way a bit, you'll hit the main path."

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley blearily rubbed her eyes as she awoke from her nap and felt that she had to be almost-dreaming because that was definitely a sight to behold on any day. She leaned heavily against the doorway and watched him, nightgown still lightly hanging from her shoulders as she'd yet to dress for the evening. "I feel like you shouldn't be allowed to be let like that in public," she noted.

[palmthemoon]

"Be a bit cramped, don't you think? I'd hit my head on the ceiling with every pull-up." He grinned at her for a moment then, with his towel slung over his shoulders, Shadow reached for the mug of water he'd placed on the ground.

"You had a good nap then? Slept through the better part of the afternoon."

[playingtheenemy]

"Yes, but no one would get to see the show," Ainsley pointed out with a drawl to her voice and bemusement clear on her face. She wasn't really a possessive woman, but it didn't mean she couldn't joke about it every now and again. "I had a good nap. I think the heat saps me after being in the air-conditioning for so long. Not that I don't like it, but it's different and different requires adjusting. So this is me. Adjusting."

[palmthemoon]

"Yeah, but if they get to see, you're the only one who gets to touch," Shadow pointed out with a smile before taking a long sip of water. He wiped his arm across his forehead as he stepped away from the equipment and headed her way.

"And how's that adjusting going?"

He wanted her to feel comfortable living here full-time. It wasn't anything he could force on her, but maybe he'd be a bit on edge until she was all settled in comfortably.

[heartless_sob]

Castiel paused on his walk, eyes widening just a little.

The man was huge.

He also seemed fatigued, sweat covering his body, shortness of breath.

"Are you alright?" Castiel ventured, brows drawn in concern.

[palmthemoon]

"Mmm?" Shadow glanced up toward the path from where he was swiping the towel across the back of his neck. A guy he didn't recognize was looking at him and, belatedly, he realized what a mess he might look. "Oh- yeah. Just been working out."

[heartless_sob]

Castiel knew the concept, though he'd never quite seen it done in person. He eyed the equipment with some trepidation.

"It looks difficult..."

[palmthemoon]

"Not really difficult, just strenuous." He looked at the various equipment that's pulled out then back at the guy. "I can show you how you use it all, if you want. Not as complicated as it looks."