Lt. JG Nathan Richards - Something to Avoid
tas9303
((Gymnasium/Fitness Center, Paxau District, Habitat Ring, Amity Outpost))
Nathan sat on one of the many weight benches that sat along the outer edge of the Fitness Center, curling a 20kg dumbbell with his left arm. He could feel the muscles in his arm begin to burn as he passed his tenth rep. It had been a while since he last did a real workout, choosing to mostly avoid going to the gym.
((Flashback, 238704.23))
Being the first time entering his high school’s weight room, Nathan entered slowly and cautiously. He wasn’t what one would call a muscular, or particularly ‘in-shape’ individual, especially after being in the hospital for months the previous year, but he held his own when running track and participating on the school’s swim team. Weight lifting was a completely foreign concept to him. He could see several other students doing bench presses and leg lifts on a few different pieces of equipment and decided to choose a far corner to put himself in. He came up to a lone bench press, looking around before setting the weight to something he felt he might be able to handle.
Student 1: ::Not even trying to be discrete:: Hey, check this $#%@ out.
Nathan could feel their presence before he saw the other students surrounding him. He tried to rest the bar to get up and move away, but one of the others grabbed on and stopped him.
Student 2: What is this? 35 kilos? Do you even have muscles?
Another student approached, and adjusted the computerized weight system, adding more weight to the bar.
Student 3: Let’s see how he does with 50 kilos.
Nathan struggled against the added weight, but managed to keep it up with shaking arms.
Student 2: Oooh, big man.
There were several more trills from the console as the weight was increased once again. His arms began to shake more as he struggled against the weight. He knew he wouldn’t be able to handle anymore.
Richards: Come on, guys! Knock it off!
Student 1: He speaks!
Nathan couldn’t hold onto the bar any longer, his elbows gave out causing the bar to drop over his chest. Thankfully, the built in safeties stopped it from crushing into his chest, but it still left him trapped against the bench.
Student 2: 55 kilos. No wonder he couldn’t do anything about that bear.
The student’s began to move away, laughing at how they had left Nathan. He lay there, unable to move. Both literally and figuratively. Tears began to well up in his eyes. Still such a fresh wound that could be so nonchalantly torn back open. He couldn’t do anything but lay there and let the tears run down his face…
((End Flashback))
Nathan let his arm go limp, feeling the sudden surge of anger and sadness. His fingers slowly loosened on the dumbbell, and it fell to the ground with a loud Clang. This was why he avoided the gym. That specific, painful memory. He stood, returning the dumbbell to its rack and quickly left the Fitness center. Outside, he leaned against the wall of the building, taking deep breaths. Normally he was able to calm himself down fairly quickly, but his normal routines weren’t doing it. Thinking of something positive, taking a deep breath and counting, nothing. He needed to go somewhere.
oO Maybe eat something… Oo
At the thought of eating something to help calm him down, he had another thought. Maybe some company wouldn’t be a bad idea. One name sprung to mind, that he felt would be able to calm him effectively. He reached up and tapped his combadge.
Richards: =/\= Hey, Rambo. What are you doing right now? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Richards: =/\= Well, here is your chance to drop that, and come have lunch with me. What do you say? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Richards: =/\= Are you going to make me beg? Do I need to come down there and drag you away? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Richards: ::Chuckling:: =/\= I’m joking, gees. But if you want to, I will be at the Glommer and Beagle in like 20 minutes. =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
((OOC: Can backsim))
TAGS!/TBC…
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Lieutenant Junior Grade Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1
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