Claire did her best to perform the next set of movements. They did not seem to be very hard though staying level through out them felt awkward. She was sure that with any amount of practice that she would become used to it.
She laughed and said
"You could put that on an advertisement poster about your classes. Tell people that you are able to do Tai Chi at any time, in any place, wearing anything."
Claire paused and looked thoughtful.
"However you would probably then have the people showing up in suits of armor or other wildly inappropriate gear daring you to make that situation work."
Or more likely some people would take it as a sign that nudity was not only okay but welcomed. She sometimes wondered at the strange dichotomy that existed in today's society. You had the people that were terribly uncomfortable with themselves;desperately trying to be someone else through clothes,make up and even surgery. Then you had those who seemed intent on wearing as little as legally possible and flaunting themselves at every opportunity.
Nope, probably safest to make no such claims in the event of either scenario coming to reality.
She shook her head.
"No, nothing hurts. I hope that it is not supposed to."
Meditation
Alexander tried to tell himself he hadn't come to the Marina every night this week looking for a certain sexy blonde but well, that would be lying and lying isn't right, is it Alexander?
So he kept an eye out for Eiryk although he never saw him. It was quiet on the pier usually though, and Alex did find it relaxing. He was sitting at the very end of the long, long pier, not on the edge of the boardwalk but up on one of the thick pillars at the corner.
He stared at the darkening horizon; the sun had gone down half an hour ago or so. It was a pretty sunset. Perfect for sharing with someone. You know, if one had someone to share and hadn't alienated them by being a complete asshole.
Alexander sighed and stilled himself. Calmly he lifted himself up onto his hands, gripping the sides of the pillar. Flexing his stomach muscles he raised his legs, straight above him, then arching his back he bent his knees, bringing his feet down toward his head.
He stayed there, counting breaths, for a good minute.
Claire
13 years ago
Alex Aristos
13 years ago
"Very good," Alex said to Claire as he watched her move. She didn't look very natural but no one really did when they first started out; that was why it was learned. Not inherited.
He grimaced at Claire's suggestion and laughed weakly. "I don't know that I'm entirely up to that big a challenge," he admitted. "Not to mention that amount of WD-40 I might have to go through if anyone really got that into their head."
He straightened up, shook his head at Claire, and answered, "No, it shouldn't hurt. Although maybe if you're not used to the movement you might be a little stiff after a good session."
Alex moved through another slow series, this one requiring even more balance as it shifted back and forth from one foot to the other. If Claire enjoyed the movements then just the three he'd showed her thus far would help her get the basics down. It didn't matter to him whether she was in class or not; sometimes, work and fun were exactly the same thing.
He grimaced at Claire's suggestion and laughed weakly. "I don't know that I'm entirely up to that big a challenge," he admitted. "Not to mention that amount of WD-40 I might have to go through if anyone really got that into their head."
He straightened up, shook his head at Claire, and answered, "No, it shouldn't hurt. Although maybe if you're not used to the movement you might be a little stiff after a good session."
Alex moved through another slow series, this one requiring even more balance as it shifted back and forth from one foot to the other. If Claire enjoyed the movements then just the three he'd showed her thus far would help her get the basics down. It didn't matter to him whether she was in class or not; sometimes, work and fun were exactly the same thing.
Claire
13 years ago
Claire was not sure how Alexander could make it look so easy and graceful. She did not feel nearly as smooth and poised. Resolving to practice later at home, Claire continued the new movement he showed her.
"Yes, the WD-40 would be essential. On the bright side it would be very hard to actually pull something from over extension. However, you would also be forever helping them up when they fell over."
The corner of her eyes crinkled in repressed mirth as she considered a whole room full of plate wearing students in various stages of going through the movements some toppled over backwards like upside down turtles.
She nodded her solemn understanding about being sore in the morning. It hardly seemed likely but he was good to give her such a warning none the less.
"Do you teach night classes?" Claire smiled. "I have no way to regularly go during the day. Always on duty, I'm afraid."
"Yes, the WD-40 would be essential. On the bright side it would be very hard to actually pull something from over extension. However, you would also be forever helping them up when they fell over."
The corner of her eyes crinkled in repressed mirth as she considered a whole room full of plate wearing students in various stages of going through the movements some toppled over backwards like upside down turtles.
She nodded her solemn understanding about being sore in the morning. It hardly seemed likely but he was good to give her such a warning none the less.
"Do you teach night classes?" Claire smiled. "I have no way to regularly go during the day. Always on duty, I'm afraid."
Alex Aristos
13 years ago
Alexander found himself chuckling at Claire's imagination, and was subsequently caught up in her scenario a little. "I guess we could rig up an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to make sure they all stay upright. Just come on in, hitch yourself up, and don't rust."
Her next question made him raise his brows in surprise. He hadn't really thought of her as a potential client; just someone enjoying the night on a pier with a stranger. But if Claire was interested he wasn't going to complain.
"Actually all I teach are night classes," he said. "I run a store during the day. When I close up I head upstairs to the studio and give classes until eight or nine. The introductory classes are always on Monday."
What was it about this city? So far he was starting to think he'd won the niche jackpot. He hadn't expected to have nearly as many students as he did, and it made him happy. He loved his store, but the real fun for him was in his lessons.
Her next question made him raise his brows in surprise. He hadn't really thought of her as a potential client; just someone enjoying the night on a pier with a stranger. But if Claire was interested he wasn't going to complain.
"Actually all I teach are night classes," he said. "I run a store during the day. When I close up I head upstairs to the studio and give classes until eight or nine. The introductory classes are always on Monday."
What was it about this city? So far he was starting to think he'd won the niche jackpot. He hadn't expected to have nearly as many students as he did, and it made him happy. He loved his store, but the real fun for him was in his lessons.
Claire
13 years ago
Claire had to stop a moment while she subsided into fits of laughter at the added imagery of an elaborate system of pulleys and ropes to keep up the now very complicated class of knights doing Tai Chi. If they were to try to explain this conversation to a casual passer-by it would sound completely insane.
She clapped her hands lightly and grinned at Alexander like a happy child. It was normally so rare to find things of interest done in the evening. Nachton was a different story and Claire had to admit that she loved this town for nurturing night time activity.
Pausing to consider her schedule, Claire nodded.
"If I go to the shelter on a different day then Monday should work. I will tell the regulars so they know when to find me."
((OOC: Short post! Wanted to get it in before work. Now I am off to the salt mines! ))
She clapped her hands lightly and grinned at Alexander like a happy child. It was normally so rare to find things of interest done in the evening. Nachton was a different story and Claire had to admit that she loved this town for nurturing night time activity.
Pausing to consider her schedule, Claire nodded.
"If I go to the shelter on a different day then Monday should work. I will tell the regulars so they know when to find me."
((OOC: Short post! Wanted to get it in before work. Now I am off to the salt mines! ))
Alex Aristos
13 years ago
Alexander enjoyed Claire's laughter. It was lighthearted and free and it cheered him some. His own mood had been too dark for levity until she had come along so her company was appreciated for more reasons than acquiring a client. He was usually pretty bad at meeting people but for whatever reason, Claire made him comfortable. Comfortable enough to smile warmly back at her and say, "All right. I'll make sure we've got a spare suit of armor in your size."
He was curious about what she did here in Nachton but he didn't pry. It was enough that she'd told him her reasons for being here to begin with.
"I'll look forward to seeing you. It's always good to have a new student." He didn't have to fake sincerity. Alexander loved his classes and it showed.
It was now well past sunset though, and Alex had a feeling he wasn't going to be seeing Eiryk - again. He'd talk to him soon though. He had had time to think on things, and he knew he was wrong to have said what he'd said. And... well, Alexander cared about Eiryk. A lot. He wasn't ready to lose him just yet.
"I've got to get going," he said to Claire, well aware that it would be a long walk back home in the dark. "It was good to meet you though."
He briefly detailed where his shop was to her, in case she did decide to come take a class after all, and with a final good-bye excused himself to head back up the long dock and toward his building.
((ooc: Alex out))
He was curious about what she did here in Nachton but he didn't pry. It was enough that she'd told him her reasons for being here to begin with.
"I'll look forward to seeing you. It's always good to have a new student." He didn't have to fake sincerity. Alexander loved his classes and it showed.
It was now well past sunset though, and Alex had a feeling he wasn't going to be seeing Eiryk - again. He'd talk to him soon though. He had had time to think on things, and he knew he was wrong to have said what he'd said. And... well, Alexander cared about Eiryk. A lot. He wasn't ready to lose him just yet.
"I've got to get going," he said to Claire, well aware that it would be a long walk back home in the dark. "It was good to meet you though."
He briefly detailed where his shop was to her, in case she did decide to come take a class after all, and with a final good-bye excused himself to head back up the long dock and toward his building.
((ooc: Alex out))
Claire
13 years ago
Claire laughed and agreed to the newly required dress attire.
"I will bring the can of WD-40."
Truthfully she was going to have to consider what she could possibly wear. It might require shopping; it might even require trying something entirely new. Claire decided that she would concern herself over the matter later.
"And you as well. Alexander. It is always good to learn something new."
Especially after all these years; to stop learning was to start dying as far as she was concerned.
Claire nodded to him and gave him a little wave.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Once alone, she turned her face to the ocean. Breathing in, Claire smiled and watched the waves. Feeling serene, She eventually turned and left towards her own night's activities.
((OOC: Claire out ))
"I will bring the can of WD-40."
Truthfully she was going to have to consider what she could possibly wear. It might require shopping; it might even require trying something entirely new. Claire decided that she would concern herself over the matter later.
"And you as well. Alexander. It is always good to learn something new."
Especially after all these years; to stop learning was to start dying as far as she was concerned.
Claire nodded to him and gave him a little wave.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Once alone, she turned her face to the ocean. Breathing in, Claire smiled and watched the waves. Feeling serene, She eventually turned and left towards her own night's activities.
((OOC: Claire out ))