Issue 1 Downtime

Robyn sat behind a counter in the gym, handling questions from students and checking loose equipment in and out as necessary. It wasn't a particularly great job, but it was what was available and for the most part it kept her busy. There was a lull right now though and she watched a few people working out on the machines while she refolded some of the cleaning cloths that had returned from being laundered.

((Open))

"You! Gym operator! May I have a word?" said the large Russian woman who walked in.

Robyn's mind had been wandering, but the call jerked her back to reality, "Ummm, yes. What can I do for you?"

"Are the tiny things in there the biggest weights you have?"

"I..." She dug into the counter and pulled out the inventory, "No, I believe there are some heavier weights in the back closet for those with exceptional strength. I think they don't leave them out because they don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Well, could you go and get them then, please?"

"I can go unlock the door," Robyn said, obviously intimidated. "But I won't be able to lift them."

"Well, this is why you should have them out. But I shall lift them, then."

"Well, I think they don't want people who aren't capable of lifting them hurting themselves by trying," she said, putting a sign up that said 'Back in 5 minutes' and grabbing a set of keys from under the counter.

"If they are heavy enough, it would never get to that point, da?

"I've only been here a few days and I've already seem people attempt some pretty stupid things," she said, leading the way to the closet and unlocking the door. Inside were super heavy duty racks with large free weights in a variety of metals. Most were branded with weight markings in excess of any normal weight. There were various reinforced bars as well. "The benches capable of handling these are over there," she said, indicating a pair of benches off to one side.

"Ah yes. I don't believe I got your name?"

"Robyn... Robyn Delaney," she said, managing a smile.

"And I am Anastasiya Volkoff. A pleasure, comrade."

"You're from Russia?" Robyn was legitimately trying not to make assumptions, which resulted in what sounded like a stupid question.

"I am. From Yakutsk. And yourself?"

"Ireland," she said. "I... um... moved around a lot."

"Can't have been too much in such a small country, da?"

"You would be surprised how many times you can cover the same roads."

"Why would you cover the same road twice?"

"It's a long story involving not having a fixed address. My parents and extended family are probably still doing it."

"Indeed. That is too bad! You should keep moving forward, not in circles."

"It's what makes them happy, I guess," she shrugged. "What about you? You do much travelling?"

"I used to travel all around Russia, going to competitions."

"That sounds like it might be fun."

"It was glorious. For a while."

"Let me guess, the whole powers thing happened and things shortly ran off to hell in a handbasket?"

"It's a common story, da? I ended up snapping some boy's arm, and that, as they say, was that."

"More common than I like. Some days I wish I had a magic wand to make everything better, but those things are more in line with fairy tales than reality."

"Da. Real life doesn't work that way, sadly."

"Some days I think it should," she said. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Do YOU lift, Robyn?"

"I don't. There wasn't much opportunity to growing up and I had other things to worry about after my powers showed up."

"And what is it you do?"

"I'm a..." she hesitated, "... a telepath." She waited to see how Ana would react.

"Ah, I had heard there were people like you around here. Not anything I've encountered before."

"I wouldn't imagine you would. The ones that don't isolate themselves tend to be very good at hiding what they are. It's not like it's particularly obvious in the first place."

"Yes, some of us are more....noticable."

Robyn covered her mouth, "Oh god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"Hrm? No! No, not at all. It is not much of a thing, no?"