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[idkmybffsean]

[Joe hasn't been in the kitchen this past week. In fact, he's been keeping to himself far more than usual and what conversations he has had have been with his brother. Each day, he finds himself in the gym, throwing himself into his old boxing regime from years ago and effectively beating the snot out of the punching bags on offer.

Knuckles bound,

Comments

[tanvirus]

[Oh, this looks familiar. Tan was doing exactly this a couple weeks ago. He knows better than to just walk up and say hi--seems like a good way to get decked, the way Joe's going at things--so he waits for a lull in the beating before he speaks.]

Bag pissed you off but good, huh.

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe snorts, dim amusement kicking into play beneath the angry exterior. He sneers, but doesn't let up just yet, giving the bag another few hard hits before replying.]

You callin' her a bag, Tan? Aye.

[And he's back into it.]

She did.

[tanvirus]

[Dim amusement is better than no amusement. He watches Joe go at it for a few more minutes. He doesn't wait for a lull this time.]

So who's "her"? Don't tell me you tried for lucky engagement number 3 and god rejected.

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe stops immediately at the mention of engagement and slowly turn his head to frown at Tanvir.]

Jaesus fock no. 'specially not to a manipulative ice queen like that one.

[He rolls his shoulders.]

Said it once an' I'll say it again. I ain't settlin' down.

[His expression darkens and the bag earns another rather hard hit.]

S'not a romance issue, if that's what yer thinkin'. Friend focked me over to get 'er way. That's the gist of it.

[iffadogcandoit]

[Toaster, having found a reasonable costume (a box of Oreos) is finally confident enough to approach a human. Joe, Toaster looks exactly like a box of Oreos so unless you rip the plastic off of him, you won't even know.

Even from the ground, Toaster can see the the anger in Joe's eyes. Another murderer? Possibly, but there is an equal chance that he isn't.]

Hello, Sir.

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe is so caught up on his beating the bag to a pulp that he barely registers Toaster's voice, let alone his approach. There's a short pause when he thinks he might of heard something, but a quick glance around at eye level.

You'll have to speak louder than that, Toaster.]

[iffadogcandoit]

[Fine, he might just yell it this time.]

Down here, Sir.

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe frowns, still annoyed but genuinely confused. He looks down and sees... Oreos.]

What in the fock..?

[This has to be a prank. Joe glances around for the source of the joke. He sees nothing, but still doesn't quite believe it's safe to pick up the Oreos. Playing it safe, Joe extends his leg to nudge Toaster with his foot.]

[madteos]

[Matt was feeling a little bit better today. At least enough to venture to the buffet and get a light lunch. But when he opened the door to leave the buffet, he ended up here in the gym. He groans when he realizes what's happened and turns to go. Knew he shouldn't have gotten out of bed.

When he spots Joe, though, he stops long enough to be friendly.]

Hey, what's got you so upset?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe barely notices the approach of Matt until he speaks. Knowing the voice, but missing the question to the sound of his fists hitting the bag, he stops to brush at the sweat on his nose with the back of his hand and give Matt a quick glance.]

Just a bit o'friend trouble, lad. Nothin' to concerning. 'sides, I've been slackin' with my trainin' so might as well use the frustration to do some good, eh?

[madteos]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Matt scrubs a hand over the back of his head. He's never actually considered hitting things as a way to allay frustration. Well he has, just never consciously.]

Guess I never gave it that much thought before.

[idkmybffsean]

[That's Joe's story and he's sticking to it.]

Physical activity, in this case beatin' the snot out of a bag.

[He gives the bag a few more taps, not as hard as they were before Matt arrived.]

I used to box back home, before I got dragged into the war. Kept it up fer a bit but I'm slackin'. If shite is gonna hit the fan again like it did at Halloween, be focked if I'm not prepared.

[Joe pauses to give Matt a serious look. The whole reason he's here is due to anger with Nel and the implication that he might fail to protect the people he cares about.]

Y'gotta protect the ones ya love, lad.

[ntjstapwn]

*Marco hasn't been frequenting the gym as often since weapons became available, but he doesn't want to let himself go too much. So he's decided to return, though pauses when he spots Joe...or is it Sean? Damn twins.*

...Hey. What's up?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe pauses long enough to give Marco a greeting nod.]

Nothin' worth mentionin'. Me an' the bag here are just havin' a little chat.

[And he's back into it.]

[ntjstapwn]

*Marco crosses his arms.*

Mmhm. Did it say something bad about your momma?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe pauses, snerks and gives the bag another few hits.]

Nah, it fockin' implied I was too piss weak to look after m'own.

[His amusement fades and Joe strikes the bag a little harder than a moment ago. He's pretty damn hurt and rather angry about what went down between him and Nel.]

That, and I'm not in the best of moods, lad.

[skinbrand]

[Avoiding a conflict and the repercussions of her actions is so unnatural for Nel that it's a certified miracle for her to avoid him for an entire week. Or decline to pursue him when he avoids her, depending on how you look at it. The end result is the same; the bad blood stays bad and nothing is resolved.

She's caught him in the gym before. Those times Nel would slip away before he'd seen her, so as not to interrupt Joe or ruin the haven for him.

She won't retreat at the first sight of him, today. The woman, clad in offworlder blue jeans, her utility belt and a black turtleneck, parks by the entrance to the gymnasium and leans there without further approach. Nel waits for a break in the hitting before steeling her guard -- to do this, she can't let him under her skin like he's been.]

Joe?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe freezes at the sound of his name, knowing that voice far too well and finding it one that he both wants and hates to hear. Relaxed and ready as he might of been just moments ago, Joe tenses immediately. He turns from the bag to look back at the woman in the door.

He doesn't answer right away, not does his expression shift from a stern frown.]

What?

[skinbrand]

[Assessing his posture and attitude is ingrained habit. Nel only responds once she's ascertained that her guard IS up and she doesn't focus on him more than appropriate.]

I want to apologize, if you'll hear me?

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe heaves a sigh and turns from the bag, pacing while he adjusts the wraps on his knuckles and heads for the speed bag. As he goes, he gives Nel a lazy wave.]

Still got two reps to do. Y'can talk while I do that or wait until I'm done.

[Joe's taking his training seriously. It's a bit of a dick move on his behalf to not properly stop and listen right away, but in the same breath, Joe is training to do what she insisted he might someday fail at.

That said, Joe starts a series of small, fast paced and relatively quiet hits on the smaller bag.]