Typically Sunday is thought to be a day of rest but let's face it, for an unemployed slug like Richard, most days are kind of like Sunday's. Usually he sleeps in until noon and then drags his ass out of bed long enough to make coffee and turn on the TV or his computer. But today he is rudely woken up at 8:30am by his alarm so that he can meet Max at the gym for 9am.
He's still half asleep and as he looks around the gym for his friend he resembles a mole rat, one who has popped up from a long slumber underground only to look bleary eyed up at the sun.
"Jesus. Are all these people on speed?" He muses out loud as he looks at all the gym-goers who are already working out on the floor. It's the only thing that makes sense right? Who naturally has this much energy?
If he's being honest, Max was half expecting Richard to try and bail out - but he receives no such text or call, and thus, here he is, arriving on the main gym floor just a minute or so after him. He gives a few of the other men and women there a nod or a greeting, but soon he's clapping Richard on the shoulder.
"Y'alright, sunshine? Glad you made it."
It's clear the poor guy's still half asleep, but Max doesn't have torture planned for him; he'll go easy on him. He wants him to come back, after all.
The thought of bailing did occur to Richard and the night before their meet up he even drafted a text to send but after reading it out loud he realized it made him sound extra pathetic and even more of an asshole than usual so he deleted it and set his alarm instead.
"Not really, I'm getting tired just looking at these people." He says dryly and follows Max further into the gym, feeling very much like an outsider. Everyone is dressed in tight yoga pants, crop top bras, muscle shirts and shorts and here he is in an old pair of black sweat pants and a band T-shirt that has a stain at the bottom.
"How often are you here?" Because it seems that Max knows quite a few of the others which would imply he's a regular.
If it helps much, Max is wearing much the same; sweats, a tee that's certainly seen better days. It's not his usual attire most of the time, but then this isn't a usual session for him. This is for Richard, and everything he can do to help him feel less like a sore thumb, the better.
"Four times a week. One lower body day, one upper, two full. Bit of cardio on all of them, sorted. But you don't need to do all that to see benefits from it, I just enjoy it. Bit of time to myself, doing somethin' for myself. Feels good."
He leads him past rows of treadmills, off to the far corner where the free weights and mats are neatly laid out, clean and organised.
"I'm not gonna be cruel and chuck you on the stairmaster for forty minutes; we'll get you warmed up a bit, see what kind of weight you can comfortably hold, and go from there. Give me your best effort for half an hour, and there's coffee in it for you."
If Richard knew that Max had tried to dress down for him he would appreciate it, although he would also argue that even in sweats and an old t-shirt Max looks like a model for a fireman's calendar and not an average joe.
"FOUR times A WEEK!" Richard exclaims loudly, causing a few people to look at them curiously as they head over to the free weight corner.
"Guess that explains why you're built like a brick shit-house." He muses as he peers at the weights, "And I appreciate you not making me climb stairs. I would probably puke my guts out if you did."
A pause and then, "Uh. So. How do I get warmed up?"
(ooc: PLEASE KNOW that Max being a firefighter/becoming one to sell calendars is a running joke for him on plurk, so that made me laugh out loud )
The exclamation only makes him snort. "Some of this lot are here every day, four days is pretty average."
He doesn't need to tell him that a big part of his session involves hauling 350lb sandbags about or deadlifting near double that. The quantity of sessions is average; the content is fucking mental.
"A lot've it's genetic - something like 70%, I dunno. My sister's the scientist." And then, in reply to Richard's next question, comes the part that so many people hate doing in front of others. Easy enough to get into a set once you've got the weights in hand, but warming up can feel like you're back in P.E class.
Max just starts rolling his shoulders back, motioning for Richard to copy him.
"Just start with thirty seconds-ish of these one way, then again going the other way. Some of these you'll feel like a bit of a pillock, but it's important."
And then it's arm circles, band pull-aparts with a resistance band, thoracic twists, and some unfortunately named shoulder-dislocates. The usual, all easy enough, but also telling about his general upper mobility.
[ooc: Bwhahaha that's so unintentionally perfect then! XD]
The idea of being at the gym EVERY day makes Richard gag and he does so mockingly as a response to that, it's childish and stupid but that's Richard all over, especially when he feels uncomfortable. Which he does at the moment, especially when Max starts motioning for him to copy his movements.
"You're right. I do feel like a pillock." He says as he begrudgingly joins in on the warm up, trying hard not to watch the way Max's shoulder and arm muscles ripple with the movement. His own movements are creaky and stiff, he doesn't move his body all that much unless it's a full moon and then...well...he has a much different body during those times.
"Your sister is a scientist? Are you guys kind of a brawn and brains duo or something?"
"But we're pillocks together. No one's payin' attention, don't worry."
He gives him a grin, and a half shrug in answer to his question. "There's three of us, older sister and older brother - but they're both insanely clever. She's a professor at Cambridge, he's a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon. If anyone in the family got the brains, it's them two."
That's not to say Max isn't smart; but they certainly have the more dazzling resumes out of the three Rooker siblings.
Once it's been a few minutes, he nods over to the free weights. "Alright - go shopping. Find a weight you're comfortable with; if you're not sure about one, go a set lighter."
"Geez your family got all the good genes didn't they?" He muses sarcastically as he finishes up the warm up and then goes to stare at the weights, trying to gauge what a "comfortable" but not entirely pathetic set would be.
"Uh....what do you usually use?" He asks, stalling for time.
The second Richard starts laughing, Max starts grinning and laughing himself, and claps him on the shoulder. It's all good-natured, and while he wouldn't tell him - because God forbid this man get a compliment - his whole face changes when he laughs. He lights up.
It's nice to see.
"Not so much 'you suck', but maybe let's keep it realistic."
He picks up one of the smaller dumbbell, an 8kg, and hands it over. "How's that, and be honest - reckon you can go heavier, or do you wanna go lighter? And before you answer, this?" Max spreads his arms out, and moves them as if he's demonstrating a circle around them. "This is a magic fucking circle where it's impossible to sound pathetic, wow incredible, I'm a wizard."
Richard's laugh is almost a giggle and it transforms him from a sarcastic asshole to a rather charming guy, his smile and laugh are definitely the most attractive things about him.
"You say keep it realistic but then claim to be a wizard." He teases Max with a grin but takes the weight from him, hoisting it up and down a little and then nods.
"I think this is good. It feels heavy but not like 'holy shit I'm going to get a hernia lifting this in an effort to impress you' kind of way."
It really does; Max just hopes he can keep the mood up for the rest of the session at least.
"Yeah, I'm a realistic wizard - don't cheapen my degree alright, I worked hard for it."
He watches him, nodding when it seems like the weight works for him. With a smirk, he grabs the second, matching weight, hands that over as well. "The only way I want you to impress me is by giving this your best shot, yeah? I don't care if you can only do one set of each, just give me your best effort."
With a hand at Richard's back, Max guides him over to a clear space, away from the dumbbell racks and out of the way.
"Alright; you wanna keep it simple - really, all you need is to hit each muscle group and you're sorted, you don't need to do five exercises for each one, doesn't need to be complicated. If your form's good, even if you only get a couple of sets in, that's better than doing a shitload more but half-assing it."
As he lists the different muscle groups, he touches them on his own arm. "We're talkin' biceps, triceps, the shoulders, chest, and back. So," Max pretends he's holding a pair of weights himself, and demonstrates how the first movement will go. "bicep curl - you wanna keep your elbows tucked close to your sides throughout. But when you're bringing them down, keep it a little slower, controlled. Let's go for twenty."
With the second weight added to his other hand it is definitely a bit more difficult but still manageable, what's more difficult is staying focused on what Max is saying as he touches each of his own muscle groups. It's distracting, having each of these bulging muscles pointed out and Richard tries not to stare at Max's biceps.
"Elbows tucked...right. Okay." He muses out loud, his eyes still on Max's muscles but then he realizes that Max is expecting him to start the actual workout.
"Oh. Uh sorry." He mutters and tries to get into the same position as Max, which feels a bit like a joke. He looks like a fun house mirror reflection compared to the other man but he tries to put that thought aside and just lift the weights like he was told.
"Is this right?" He asks as he slowly does the move.
He notices Richard looking - have to be fucking blind not to - but he doesn't draw attention to it. Focuses instead on him, keeping the smile on his face encouraging instead of quietly amused. Flattered.
"Yeah, that's perfect - make sure you're inhaling on the easier bit, when you're lowerin' 'em down, and exhale when you're curling back up. There you go."
And then, when the last movement's done; "And you're done, gorgeous stuff. Chuck 'em down, give your arms a bit of a shake out. Not so bad right?"
"Inhale and exhale. So basically I should remember to breathe?" Richard asks sarcastically but does try to follow Max's instructions for the next few reps. His sarcasm is never hostile, it's just his natural tone of voice most of the time.
"Yeah I guess that wasn't too bad." He admits and puts the weights down carefully. "Now what?"
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for @writorwrong (tfln gym day continued)
Date: 2025-11-17 10:59 pm (UTC)Typically Sunday is thought to be a day of rest but let's face it, for an unemployed slug like Richard, most days are kind of like Sunday's. Usually he sleeps in until noon and then drags his ass out of bed long enough to make coffee and turn on the TV or his computer. But today he is rudely woken up at 8:30am by his alarm so that he can meet Max at the gym for 9am.
He's still half asleep and as he looks around the gym for his friend he resembles a mole rat, one who has popped up from a long slumber underground only to look bleary eyed up at the sun.
"Jesus. Are all these people on speed?" He muses out loud as he looks at all the gym-goers who are already working out on the floor. It's the only thing that makes sense right? Who naturally has this much energy?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 02:07 pm (UTC)"Y'alright, sunshine? Glad you made it."
It's clear the poor guy's still half asleep, but Max doesn't have torture planned for him; he'll go easy on him. He wants him to come back, after all.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 08:24 pm (UTC)"Not really, I'm getting tired just looking at these people." He says dryly and follows Max further into the gym, feeling very much like an outsider. Everyone is dressed in tight yoga pants, crop top bras, muscle shirts and shorts and here he is in an old pair of black sweat pants and a band T-shirt that has a stain at the bottom.
"How often are you here?" Because it seems that Max knows quite a few of the others which would imply he's a regular.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 09:34 pm (UTC)"Four times a week. One lower body day, one upper, two full. Bit of cardio on all of them, sorted. But you don't need to do all that to see benefits from it, I just enjoy it. Bit of time to myself, doing somethin' for myself. Feels good."
He leads him past rows of treadmills, off to the far corner where the free weights and mats are neatly laid out, clean and organised.
"I'm not gonna be cruel and chuck you on the stairmaster for forty minutes; we'll get you warmed up a bit, see what kind of weight you can comfortably hold, and go from there. Give me your best effort for half an hour, and there's coffee in it for you."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 09:55 pm (UTC)"FOUR times A WEEK!" Richard exclaims loudly, causing a few people to look at them curiously as they head over to the free weight corner.
"Guess that explains why you're built like a brick shit-house." He muses as he peers at the weights, "And I appreciate you not making me climb stairs. I would probably puke my guts out if you did."
A pause and then, "Uh. So. How do I get warmed up?"
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 10:16 pm (UTC)The exclamation only makes him snort. "Some of this lot are here every day, four days is pretty average."
He doesn't need to tell him that a big part of his session involves hauling 350lb sandbags about or deadlifting near double that. The quantity of sessions is average; the content is fucking mental.
"A lot've it's genetic - something like 70%, I dunno. My sister's the scientist." And then, in reply to Richard's next question, comes the part that so many people hate doing in front of others. Easy enough to get into a set once you've got the weights in hand, but warming up can feel like you're back in P.E class.
Max just starts rolling his shoulders back, motioning for Richard to copy him.
"Just start with thirty seconds-ish of these one way, then again going the other way. Some of these you'll feel like a bit of a pillock, but it's important."
And then it's arm circles, band pull-aparts with a resistance band, thoracic twists, and some unfortunately named shoulder-dislocates. The usual, all easy enough, but also telling about his general upper mobility.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-19 03:33 am (UTC)The idea of being at the gym EVERY day makes Richard gag and he does so mockingly as a response to that, it's childish and stupid but that's Richard all over, especially when he feels uncomfortable. Which he does at the moment, especially when Max starts motioning for him to copy his movements.
"You're right. I do feel like a pillock." He says as he begrudgingly joins in on the warm up, trying hard not to watch the way Max's shoulder and arm muscles ripple with the movement. His own movements are creaky and stiff, he doesn't move his body all that much unless it's a full moon and then...well...he has a much different body during those times.
"Your sister is a scientist? Are you guys kind of a brawn and brains duo or something?"
no subject
Date: 2025-11-19 10:15 pm (UTC)He gives him a grin, and a half shrug in answer to his question. "There's three of us, older sister and older brother - but they're both insanely clever. She's a professor at Cambridge, he's a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon. If anyone in the family got the brains, it's them two."
That's not to say Max isn't smart; but they certainly have the more dazzling resumes out of the three Rooker siblings.
Once it's been a few minutes, he nods over to the free weights. "Alright - go shopping. Find a weight you're comfortable with; if you're not sure about one, go a set lighter."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-19 11:27 pm (UTC)"Uh....what do you usually use?" He asks, stalling for time.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 10:39 pm (UTC)Max looks at the heavier end of the dumbbell bench.
Max looks back at Richard.
"Let's focus on you, yeah?"
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 11:47 pm (UTC)He's obviously kidding since he's laughing so hard at Max's reaction.
"That was the best 'stop fooling yourself, you suck' expression I've seen in a long time."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-21 10:21 am (UTC)It's nice to see.
"Not so much 'you suck', but maybe let's keep it realistic."
He picks up one of the smaller dumbbell, an 8kg, and hands it over. "How's that, and be honest - reckon you can go heavier, or do you wanna go lighter? And before you answer, this?" Max spreads his arms out, and moves them as if he's demonstrating a circle around them. "This is a magic fucking circle where it's impossible to sound pathetic, wow incredible, I'm a wizard."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-23 02:14 am (UTC)"You say keep it realistic but then claim to be a wizard." He teases Max with a grin but takes the weight from him, hoisting it up and down a little and then nods.
"I think this is good. It feels heavy but not like 'holy shit I'm going to get a hernia lifting this in an effort to impress you' kind of way."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-24 11:10 pm (UTC)"Yeah, I'm a realistic wizard - don't cheapen my degree alright, I worked hard for it."
He watches him, nodding when it seems like the weight works for him. With a smirk, he grabs the second, matching weight, hands that over as well. "The only way I want you to impress me is by giving this your best shot, yeah? I don't care if you can only do one set of each, just give me your best effort."
With a hand at Richard's back, Max guides him over to a clear space, away from the dumbbell racks and out of the way.
"Alright; you wanna keep it simple - really, all you need is to hit each muscle group and you're sorted, you don't need to do five exercises for each one, doesn't need to be complicated. If your form's good, even if you only get a couple of sets in, that's better than doing a shitload more but half-assing it."
As he lists the different muscle groups, he touches them on his own arm. "We're talkin' biceps, triceps, the shoulders, chest, and back. So," Max pretends he's holding a pair of weights himself, and demonstrates how the first movement will go. "bicep curl - you wanna keep your elbows tucked close to your sides throughout. But when you're bringing them down, keep it a little slower, controlled. Let's go for twenty."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-25 10:05 pm (UTC)"Elbows tucked...right. Okay." He muses out loud, his eyes still on Max's muscles but then he realizes that Max is expecting him to start the actual workout.
"Oh. Uh sorry." He mutters and tries to get into the same position as Max, which feels a bit like a joke. He looks like a fun house mirror reflection compared to the other man but he tries to put that thought aside and just lift the weights like he was told.
"Is this right?" He asks as he slowly does the move.
DW ATE MY REPLY I thought I got back to this days ago sobs aggressively arthur fist meme
Date: 2025-11-27 10:19 pm (UTC)"Yeah, that's perfect - make sure you're inhaling on the easier bit, when you're lowerin' 'em down, and exhale when you're curling back up. There you go."
And then, when the last movement's done; "And you're done, gorgeous stuff. Chuck 'em down, give your arms a bit of a shake out. Not so bad right?"
Boooo DW! Stop eating shit you're not supposed to! XP
Date: 2025-11-28 12:11 am (UTC)"Yeah I guess that wasn't too bad." He admits and puts the weights down carefully. "Now what?"