There's something so powerful...

[in_for_the_history]

If you're of a type to look in the more unusual corners of the Mansion — namely down the far hallways or up to the ceiling — you may get a bit of entertainment today thanks to a pair of certain residents.


Those venturing down the long hallways on the higher floors might come across a simple wooden door, behind which seems be an assortment of sounds originating from a gym: squeaking shoes, clanging metal, and confident, uneven footsteps and harsh breathing from a single person.

Inside is a wooden floor and an assortment of blue landing mats, true, but it's not quite a gym. Few gyms have such a wide and varied (and tall) assortment of artificial rock faces. They tower up to the distant ceiling, marked only by infrequent hand- and footholds. Any potential grappling targets are high on the cement walls, on smooth areas without rock and far out of conventional reach. The center of the room is staggered with free-standing rock columns (many with their tops cut off at sharp angles, as if sheared by the downward force of a giant knife) and an assortment of grid metal poles that are climbable but precariously narrow. Various metal bars hang from the ceiling, occasionally providing the only possible path between the top of one structure and another.

One Shinichi Kudo of a middling twenty-something years of age is currently swinging from one of those bars, dressed in a thin long-sleeved shirt and simple black pants, and evidently not harnessed to a single thing. This doesn't seem to bother him much, as he gathers momentum in a final swing and then throws himself forward above and over a thirty foot drop to land lightly on one of the narrow poles. He wobbles a moment, his arms thrown out for balance, then quickly steadies and aims for his next landing target.



For those more inclined to greater heights, the Mansion's lobby is the place to be — or more specifically, the empty air above it, stretching upwards forever as the building's infinite staircases spiral up around the edges. Many, many, many many many many stories above the ground, a thick cord of webbing is anchored securely between one side of the grand stairwell and the other, forming a narrow tightrope path maybe 8-10 meters across.

Standing calmly on this cord, arms out for balance and already several meters away from safety, an Aoko Nakamori is steadily making her way across. She seems about as old as the Kudo from the gym, dressed in sneakers, capris, and a padded black vest over a blue tank top. She does have a harness, but it's a simple affair and not immediately noticeable: just a strong cord and a couple of carabiners, tethered to the main line at one end and Aoko's waist at the other. Even as you watch she slips, quickly catching herself by folding a leg over the rope and 'sitting' on it, and grumbling swears while she waits for it to stop swaying up and down.



((Tagging with both raider!Aoko and raider!Shinichi, simply state your preference by specifying the setting. The "gym" is rather reminiscent of one belonging to a certain Lara Croft, though it's a bit grander and not an exact match. Others may recognize Aoko's activity as highlining/slacklining.))

Comments

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Ah!"

Investigating the noises from the gym, Conan's discovered the best thing ever after a fully equipped laboratory, or a puppy, of course. A proper obstacle course.

Paying little attention to the Shinichi currently tackling the course (he knows he could do that, so of course any other him should be able to), Conan wanders out into the middle of the floor, sizing up the course and deciding how he's going to tackle it.

He is way, way too happy about this.

[in_for_the_history]

There doesn't seem to be much within reach for someone his height — though Conan's undoubtedly got some gadgets up his sleeve to help with that. The 'carousels' that consist of four crossbars mounted on a single, rotatable pole might be a good start; they're near some simple wall ledges and a more conventional climbing wall or two that has rubber grips.

Shinichi secures his next stable spot with a hop-skip over the poles that takes him to a rock face. His hands and feet dig easily into the rough surface, and he finally takes the time to spare a glance down, sizing up the counterpart that he already knows is there.

He's pretty sure only one Conan's going to look quite that excited about a room like this. The question is whether he should do anything about him.

"Long time no see."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"It's been a while," Conan agrees absently. He's come to the same conclusion about the carousels and is doing some warming up exercises in front of them. "You're pretty good up there."

[in_for_the_history]

"Figured I might as well stay in shape if we're going to be stuck here." The raider carefully drops himself to a lower ledge, getting level with another pole and grunting with the effort. "Anything of note going on?"

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"No. Everyone's being boring, just like usual." Exercises finished, Conan pats the climbing wall, testing the surface. Gloves or rope -- it's a hard choice. Well, he can always do the course twice, he reminds himself, pulling on his gloves. "But look out for the girl us. She likes putting make-up on unwary people."

[in_for_the_history]

Shinichi gives him another glance, then figures he can always intervene at a later period if he's needed. For now, he concentrates on sizing up the distance to the two nearest poles.

"...Girl us?"

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

Oi oi. Watch yourself.

[and from where that cord is fastened on one end comes a familiar voice. he's leaning over the railing, frowning a bit and watching her carefully, gaze sharp. although he certainly doesn't look tense, anyone who knew him well enough would be able to tell that underneath the casual exterior he was taut and ready to move. if necessary.

n-not that he didn't trust Aoko at this point to take care of herself-- but no matter how capable she was, he still felt as though he needed to look after her]

Don't go 'splat' on the ground below.

[believe_in_legend]

[oh course he doesn't, which is why he's hovering like a protective mother. Aoko is not impressed. B|]

I'm not going to, idiot.

[and just to spite him, she suddenly lets herself fall over forward. Her hands grip the cord as a pivot, and in an instant she turns the drop into a controlled tumble, swinging up on the other side in a reverse pullover. She stops there, arms locked straight to keep her in place, waist on a level with the cord, and legs held perfectly in line with the rest of her body for balance]

I'm perfectly fine!

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

[he is not hovering he is watching tyvm. and he doesn't flinch when she tumbles, instead raising an eyebrow at her as he pushes away from the stair railing]

And you call me a showoff.

[believe_in_legend]

[he was frowning and worrying and leaning, that combines into hovering]

Some people call it practicing.

[huffs and swings herself the rest of the way over and back onto the cord, smoothly regaining her feet and bending her knees to control the sway]

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

Oi, that's what I called it. You insisted it was closer to showing off.

[debating joining her on that cord... :|a but he doesn't want to throw off her balance]

[believe_in_legend]

Because that's what you do.

[by all means. The more the merrier with slacklining, provided you have a harness.

Aoko bounces lightly as she moves further out on the line, the springy web giving way to her weight as she shoots him a Look]

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

I do not.

[... climbing up onto that rope yep. without a harness]

[believe_in_legend]

You do s—

[—stops bouncing immediately when he does that]

What are you doing?

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

[balancing perfectly well, hands in his pockets]

What's it look like?

[believe_in_legend]

Baka, you should at least have a harness!

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

I'll be fine.

[taking a step forward smoothly]

[believe_in_legend]

'Fine'.

[sounds very skeptical of his definition, and staying very still]

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

Fine.

[so long as she doesn't move he should be okay]

[believe_in_legend]

[don't worry, she isn't going anywhere]

You could have waited until I got off!

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

Oooi, don't worry, I'm not gonna make you fall.

[believe_in_legend]

I'm not the one who needs to be worrying.

[folds her arms, shifting a bit and then putting her hands back out for stability when he gets closer. He's moving smoothly, but she's doing everything she can to keep the line steady]

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be doing this if I had a reason to worry, Aoko.

[moving incredibly smoothly, though risking a lot by walking without a harness]

[believe_in_legend]

[yeah, she's well aware of just how much he's risking here, though she feels better the closer he gets. If worse comes to worst, she can catch him from this distance]

Oh, so you're just going to make me worry instead?

[infortherelics.livejournal.com]

[just grinning at this point, leeeeaning forward a bit toward her once he's close enough]

You don't have to worry, you know that.