[Open-ish] Bonds are Such a Pain...

[sleight_of_hand]

WHO: Adachi, Viktor; two open prompts.
WHERE: Mostly Heropa, though the other cities as well.
WHEN: From about mid-month to the end of the month.
WHAT: Catch all for March as Adachi tries to sort out his job, friendships, and figure out what the hell's been changing with him.
WARNINGS: To be updated as needed.

[ (Late) Morning Workout - Viktor ]
[ It had only been a couple weeks since they started working out in the mornings, but Adachi was already starting to get the hang of it. That wasn't to say it wasn't grueling; stretches of every kind he could think of and some he didn't even know about, anaerobic and aerobic routines, and running -- oh god so much running. Viktor didn't seem to believe in easing into it either, probably because he was already so damn fit he could run circles around Adachi with very little effort, and even with his endurance powers, Adachi was usually falling over exhausted by the time they were done. ]

[ And he didn't even know that by the time he pulled himself out of bed, Viktor was finishing his first workout. ]

[ This was probably the first morning that wasn't the case, and he couldn't help but be a little happy with himself. Once they were back at their meet-up spot, Adachi paused, making sure Viktor was preoccupied with something else, before he lifted his shirt up a little bit, giving his stomach a little poke. He couldn't help but grin stupidly at the result. ]

It's already less squishy...

[ He has no idea he said that out loud. ]

[ Afternoons in Porter Cities - OTA ]
[ On any given day during the week, Adachi looks like he's trying to do a million things at once and not succeeding in any of them. Since working with Dooku, work had started trickling in steadily, and then after his involvement with investigating the blackout became public, it poured in before he could put up a flood gate. Some of it was petty stuff -- suspicion of theft, unfaithful significant other, that sort of thing -- but there were some bigger ones, like missing persons. Most of his clientele were natives; it was amazing how many problems the locals had, and he probably had more work now than he ever had working for the prefecture back in Japan. ]

[ When he does finally sit down, it's usually at a cafe, somewhere nice and quiet, with about a million papers to go through as he tries to shovel down whatever he managed to order before focusing on his work. If you're really lucky, you might get to see him flop his paperwork down in exasperation, his reading glasses half hanging off his face. ]

...I need an office already...

[ Nights in Heropa - OTA ]
[ After about midmonth, you might get to see the ice rink open later than usual -- sometimes an hour or two past closing time. Going in, the owner is just sitting alone in the rental booth, kicked back and not really paying attention to who comes in. ]

[ It's just Adachi down on the ice, having paid extra to the owner to keep the rink open a little longer. He's usually just trying to get used to skating around, and pretty badly at that. He's been coming by every night when he can't sleep... which is pretty often, considering he's had a lot to think about, especially after certain events that he really wanted to get off his mind. Focusing on just re-figuring out how to move around -- considering how distracted he was when he initially learned -- was helping him with that. His mind wandered easily while he was attempting this, so he doesn't immediately realize that someone else is there. When he does, he manages to come to a stop, and embarrassing look on his face. ]

Ah, sorry; I can leave if you need some time here.

[ It isn't until the end of the month that going in shows the owner a little more attentive at the booth, absently glancing down at the rink on occasion. He'll look up when someone comes in, giving a warning of, "He's actually doing something today, so he might not bug out," but not stopping anyone from going down. ]

[ And Adachi was definitely trying. His thought process had gone toward why he started working out: to get back into shape, and retrain with judo again. But dancing had evolved from martial arts like judo, and ice skating evolved from dancing... so it was okay to cut the middle part and still get somewhere, right? ]

[ Doing judo in skates was going about as well as one would expect, however. It's about the fourth time Adachi faceplants that he rolls over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling as he let out a groan. ]

Ugh... what am I doing...?

Comments

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor turns back at precisely the wrong moment from wiping his sweaty face and neck with a dry towel to see Adachi poking at himself and just laughs. ]

That's what's supposed to happen, isn't it?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ A squeak escapes from Adachi's mouth as he shoves his shirt back down so fast he very nearly rips it. Geeze, Viktor; you were supposed to be distracted! Rude! ]

I-I just didn't think it would happen that fast, t-that's all.

[fourlevels]

[ He barely reacts to the squeak or the shirt tugging, used to such nervous tics with Yuuri. ]

It's all those core exercises you've been doing! They really make an impact if you keep it up regularly.

[ He finishes mopping the sweat from his hair, leaving it in a silver mess while he flings the towel over his shoulder. Hands free now, Viktor tugs up one of the sleeves from the jacket he's wearing, taking a quick glance over the bandage that's wrapped under his forearm there to make sure it hasn't shifted or come undone from the running. ]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi caught himself staring; it was hard not to notice the little things Viktor did, especially after that incident. Of course, that meant he was still staring when he rolled up his sleeve. ]

Hey... what happened?

[fourlevels]

[ He pauses at the verbal acknowledgement of it, but it's brief, less than half a second, before Viktor is tugging the sleeve back down. ]

Ah, it was during that time of the blackout. We ran into one of the escaped criminals. It's healing fine, but I just wanted to make sure the covering was secure.

Judo Ice Skating Plox

[exsithstential]

Hm! I'm impressed.

[Revan comments from the ring barrier, leaning over the edge, nodding when Adachi sees him.

He'd only been moving through the area and noticed him in passing. However his practiced eye caught there was something martial to the boy's motions.
And that drew him over.]

That's quite the ambitious training regimen.

I read that as "plop" at first.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi blinked back up at the stranger, not sure who he was supposed to be. He kind of looked familiar in that, "Maybe I saw him at a welcome ceremony or something," way, but he couldn't remember for certain. ]

Ah... heh; but not one that someone should really do on knife shoes, apparently.

[ Yes, he was just going to keep calling skates knife shoes. It was funny, okay? ]

[exsithstential]

[Revan frowns a bit at his choice of wording, but then smiles. Perhaps he comes from a place without skates and that's his best guess at their name.

It was an endearingly cute attempt if so.]

Not at all, I can see the merit to your design.

[He, gingerly at first, steps out onto the ice himself. Without skates, he makes sure his boots will support him before confidently kicking off from the edge. Slowly he glides over near Adachi, arms folded behind his back as he comes to a stop next to him.]

Practicing balance of form in such extreme conditions demands you perform at your best.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi raised an eyebrow at the guy as he just glided over on his normal shoes like it was no big deal. Show off. ]

Hunh... I didn't think of it that way.

[ He paused, rubbing at the back of his neck. ]

Here I was just trying it hoping it'd be like what I've seen some ice skaters do.

dumps this bag of salt on you - second prompt

[h2no]

[archie has been sitting at the table across from adachi for a while now. he figures maybe the other guy didn't recognise him because he's got sunglasses on, a different bandana and... probably just doesn't care to notice him.

he can't help but snipe back:] And that stick pulled out your ass.

Too much salt is bad for you, Archie

[sleight_of_hand]

Eh...?

[ Adachi looked around, trying to figure out who said that, before his eyes finally rested on Archie. It took him a moment to place who he was, considering the sunglasses, but when he did, a bit of a smirk wormed it's way onto his face. He pushed his glasses back up onto his face properly, letting out a chuckle. ]

I would congratulate you being able to show your face in public, but it looks like you're trying to avoid that.

hes gonna share it

[h2no]

[he just... takes the glasses off and tosses them onto the table.]

I ain't avoiding shit, asshole. What, you ain't found someone in here to terrorize yet?

Rude.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Oh, scary, scary; Adachi let out a snort, shaking his head as he gathered up his paperwork, patting it down. ]

Well, unlike some of us, I have actual work to do.

ICE RINK FOR AN ICE TIGER

[beautiful_monster]

[Of course the change in hours at the ice rink was going to catch Yuri's attention sooner or later. He pays a visit the first night he notices, intent on finding out who's using it this late. Had someone else swooped in and claimed it as a home rink before Viktor could finish negotiating?

When he gets rinkside and sees that it's just some amateur working on his basics he's...well, honestly he's not sure what to think of it. Who the hell bribes a rink for time to do the basics?

He just shakes his head when Adachi offers to leave.]

The rink's not that small, and I've got plenty of experience avoiding newbie skaters if I want to practice.

YES <3

[sleight_of_hand]

[ ...wow. Well, it was true, he was a newbie, and he wasn't being particularly harsh, but Adachi still felt like he was being stabbed with each word. He felt his eyebrow twitch in annoyance, but he managed to keep a sheepish smile plastered on his face. ]

Ah... heh... I-I'll keep out of your way regardless...

[beautiful_monster]

[Yuri rolls his eyes and bends down to take the guards off his own skates so he can step out onto the ice. And of course his "step" is much more of a graceful, arcing glide that ends with a tight spin so he can face Adachi.]

Just stay on that side of the rink if you're so worried.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ ...what, how old was this guy? Ten? Adachi couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at how easy he made that look. He held up his hands, taking a fumbling glide backward. ]

F-fine, sorry...

[fourlevels]

[ Late one night after the cave-in happened but before the rescue, and notably after a certain report was published, Viktor took a leaf out of a friend's book about bribing the owner of the ice rink and letting him stay after hours. Several hours after hours.

It was fine though, Yuuri still needed some space after their argument, and his anxiety over Yuri missing was flaring so he needed some alone time with Makkachin. It hurt that Viktor couldn't stay to help him through it, but Yuuri knew his anxiety best and Viktor wasn't going to push in where he wasn't needed (or wanted? he pushes that thought away and concentrates on his skates).

He's been at it for hours now, having started well before the rink officially closed; so long now that the owner was dozing off in the front area. Viktor was pushing himself past his endurance, which had already been slagging as of late with how much he was running around doing, but he kept at it, only allowing himself a few minutes break whenever he couldn't get enough air in after a particularly grueling step sequence or jump combos. Then he was right back at it.

If anyone were to walk in on him then, they'd see Viktor in his sweatpants and v-neck shirt, the short sleeves hiding nothing of the sweat running down his face, neck, and arms, or of the bandage still wrapped around his forearm and elbow. The triple Salchow, triple Toe jump combo he lands just then is technically perfect, but it isn't exactly elegant; and what's more he knows it with the frown he's sporting as he coasts along the ice after, hands on his hips as he glares down at the ice. ]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ It was weird to come in at his usual time after hours, and see the owner already passed out. Adachi frowned, peering at him a moment, before he crept in to grab his usual skates, slinging them over his shoulder and leaving his bribe money on the desk, before going down. He probably shouldn't have been surprised to see someone already there, but the fact that it was Viktor... well, no, it wasn't that surprising, though he had to admit he half expected Katsuki. ]

[ Adachi walked up to the barrier wall, resting his elbows on it to watch. It was pretty easy to tell something was off almost right away; for one, Viktor was clearly overworking himself -- he seriously looked like he was going to pass out out any second if he kept pushing himself like that. Another thing was he didn't get that same weird tug and desire to just stare at him, and it didn't take much to figure out that his power wasn't active, despite the lack of collar. ]

[ And... then there was that move he just did, whatever it was. Sure, he didn't know what it was supposed to look like, but it felt off, like there wasn't the same kind of grace to it he had the last time. ]

Never thought I'd see you be average at something.

[ He maintained a lopsided grin on his face for all of a moment, before his expression softened. ]

...I'll understand if you rather I left.

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor starts a bit and looks up, eyes wide in surprise. He stares for a beat or two, trying to remember if he heard the rink door open and close or not, pushing his sweaty bangs from his face. ]

Ah, Tohru ... I didn't hear anyone come in.

[ He turns his head to glance at the clock high above the rink, noting the late hour. ]

Is it your usual time right now? I'll clear off if you want the ice.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi shook his head. ]

It's fine, though you really look like you could use a break.

[ He leaned forward a little, his posture relaxed against the barrier. It was hard for him to be the supportive friend -- he hadn't exactly had much practice in doing that -- but considering this was partially his fault, his could at least make an attempt at it. ]

...how bad?

Third prompt

[monge]

[Komasan has absolutely no reason to be here, in fact if you were to ask him why, he probably wouldn't have an answer. He just tends to...wander. Maybe it was curiosity, something open at odd hours is bound to attract attention, or maybe he's just lost.

Either way, he watches Adachi on the sidelines, ears twitched when he watches him fall on his face.]

I dunno, what are you doing, zura?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi groaned at the familiar voice, rubbing his ice bruised face, before pushing himself up. He gave the little dog guy a bland look, shoulders slumping. ]

Komasan, what are you doing here?

[monge]

I dunno.

[See, I fucking told you!]

But I like skating, zura!

[And to prove it, he steps onto the ice...without any skates, like he's some sort of Charlie Brown Christmas special. He slides himself around Adachi playfully.]

It's good to see that you have a hobby now too, zura~

Dammit, G-mail, stop hiding replies.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ ...you know, at this point, nothing Komasan does really surprises him. Adachi manages to pull himself to his feet as he skates around him, an amused grin creeping up onto his face. Little guy made it look easy. ]

Yeah, I suck at it though.

[ He's an eternal work in progress. ]

Look at you! You could give those crazy figure skaters that showed up a run for their money.

[ Not really, but he'll let him dream. ]