Closed Peckish (Riaris)

[Uopa]

The Seventh Day of the Spring Season, Five Hundred and Thirteen Years After the Valterrian

[Uopa]

Spring rain. The sound of it warmed Uopa's heart. It really did. She loved listening to the tepid liquid as it tinkled and trickled, splattered and splashed all over the place. She also enjoyed watching it quietly pool or slowly meander upon the stone steps and pebbled pathways of the cliff-side city. She could get lost in it for bells at a time. She found it worked wonders on her body, mind, and soul. It relaxed and centered her, often bringing about a pitch perfect balance that calmed her to the core. Therefore, it was rather disheartening to the Inarta, as she arrived at Gideon's Glory, to find one of the Akalak owners - Ilavik, she believed - cursing the substance as if it were some foul, flesh-eating fluid. "Three days in a row? Are you petchin' kiddin' me? This shyke better knock it off or..." "Or what?" Uopa questioned the imposing Akalak as she joined him under the protective overhang that ran the length of the single-level, stone building behind him. "Or...well...I don't know," he mused as signs of the slightest smile began to show. "I guess there isn't much I can do about it. Is there?" "Nope. Not even someone as big as you can control the skies above. You can try, but you'll only end up failing miserably." "Ha! You must be the feisty glassworker Melanos told me about," he stated with a lopsided grin as his beady little eyes took in her saturated form. "And you must be the brawn of this operation, seeing that your brother was gifted with the brains of the family." "Exactly!" Ilavik roared as he flexed his enormous arms and bounced his impressive pectoral muscles. "Hey, wait just a chime..." "Speaking of Melanos, where is he? I'm suppose to meet with him to discuss a commission he has in mind for the Form and Fitness Festival," Uopa questioned as she ignored the Akalak's plea and stepped through the double door entrance of the training facility. "He, uh, told me to take care of you until he got back." "Oh? Will he be away long?" she continued to question as she stepped deeper inside, allowing herself to get a better look at the inner workings of the establishment. From the looks of it, the place was in full swing with numerous clients working up a sweat on the main floor. "To be honest, I have no idea," he replied as he stood behind her now, casting a shadow over her diminutive form. "Well, how about I take a look around, get a feel for the place, and you, you go back to lifting...or posing...or whatever it is you do around here. I'll take this time to work on a few sketches." "Uh, sure," he replied with a shrug of his broad shoulders. "Just be careful around guys like, uh, like that one over there," he jabbed a finger in the air toward a violet-skinned Akalak who was currently pumping several plates of iron as if they were a mere child's toy. "They tend to get caught up in their routines, which means they can be pretty intense at times. Weights have been known to fly when and where you least expect them to." "Maybe I'll offer to spot 'em," the Inarta jokingly replied as she pretended to roll up her damp sleeves. "Uh, yeah, good luck with that, little lady," Ilavik laughed as he strode off, leaving Uopa to her own devices. "Good petchin' luck!"

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris had arrived at the Gideon's Glory that day looking for a good, long and hard workout. It was his day off from work and his patrol at the lodge which left the bulky Akalak free to use his time however he saw fit. While he choose to use a lot of that free time perusing the enchanting Konti Kavala, or spending that time with others from the Sanctuary such as her brother Vanator, on this day he had one thing on his mind.

Zith..

The Zith were always a problem and their numbers too large for anyone to accurately account for. They weren't an everyday threat to the people of Riverfall for they did so rear their ugly heads a few times a season. The last time he had encountered the beast had been in winter. He hated them so much and his blood boiled with the desire to cause them as much pain as he possibly could before finally ending their lives. And so he went to work, bench pressing the combined weight of 250 pounds.

"50"

"51"

"52"

"53"

He had learned something during the last fight, the Zith were nimble agile creatures and with their wings it made them even harder to catch. He knew that he needed to be stronger, but he learned that being faster was also important. His strength and speed would be the difference maker and having that would also aid him better when he was wielding his large two bladed-sword. It was constant training for him, and if he wasn't building up his body, he was working on his unarmed skill, or even the two weapons that he used.

"64"

"65"

"66"

"67"

Riaris took a breath, holding his position with his arms extended. He kept his mind clear mostly and after resting for a tick he started up again, lowering the barbell down to his chest and then pushing it up the full stretch of his arms. He could easily feel the burn in his shoulders and in his chest and arms. His muscles tighten, veins throbbed, all working to push his body harder to accomplish is goals. He paused again once he neared the one hundred mark then pushed himself on pushing the full weight of the bar until he maxed out his count.

Riaris sat up then, breathing heavily as he stared out into the area. His pale gaze fell upon a fiery haired woman coming towards the row of benches in the workout area. He wasn't one to judge, she didn't look much like she could handle the weight. Either way, it wasn't his business, but he did wonder what she was up to.

[Uopa]

Circling the main training floor, Uopa took the time to dry her clothes and hair before she made any attempt to approach the men who dominated the center of the room. To be a foreign female in such a place was challenging enough, but to come across as a drowned gutter rat certainly wouldn't help. Although, she had to admit, her damp blouse was hugging her curves rather nicely. Once dry, Uopa made her way toward the back of the chamber. Taking a seat, upon a wide stone bench, not too far from a particularly large Akalak male, she removed a sheet of parchment from her pack, along with a stick of charcoal. Thankfully, both items were bone dry, so without any hesitation she launched into a series of primitive line drawings. They were simple, yet accurate, which was exactly what she would need for later on when she sculpted the same thing in glass. This...this is going to be a challenging project, she thought as her hand slid across the paper making marks as it went. I may have to do this in parts. The head being one part, then the torso, then the arms and legs. It's also going to require a sizable amount of materials. Dropping the piece of charcoal, the Inarta stood, stretched, and looked around. Maybe she was going about this all wrong. If these men won a contest, would they really want a glass sculpture of a male form? Perhaps a female one would be more appealing, more rewarding...or a sculpture of their equipment...or something a bit more symbolic. But what? "Uh, hello...," she began as she cautiously approached the Akalak she had just been sketching. "May I ask you a question?"

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris stood up and began to stretch his muscles. He could feel the burn in his limbs that came with a hard workout and stood to rotate his shoulders and neck. He squatted, getting the muscles in his legs to loosen up so that he could start on the next exercise for his lower body. He turned and paced the floor a bit, still rotating his arms to ready them for more work and another round of weight pushing.

He would glance up every so often towards the pretty redhead seated near by. In Riverfall, the home of the Akalak hair was naturally black, raven colored for most of the people there. When Konti, Inartan, and others with brighter hair color were around people noticed, especially if they were women. Riaris turned back to the bench that he had sat on and sat down again. He decided to do another seat and then focus on his leg workout afterwards.

Before he laid down, he glanced towards the woman again and if it appeared that she was drawing him, or one of the men standing nearby. He arched a curios brow, wondering what the woman could be up to as he laid back onto the bedding and reached up towards the bar. With his meaty hands clenching the bar, and fingers curled around it, he lifted it up and extended his arms their full reach before bringing the bar back down towards his chest for the count and pushing it back up afterwards.

The bulky Akalak steadied his breathing as he continued. It wasn't as much about speed as it was keeping to a pace that allowed him to catch his breath and keep himself from tiring how. Another long breath escaped, fingers loosened then tighten back around the pole as he started to push upward again. The muscles in his ads ripped, chest muscled flexed, even the cuts in his arms grew deeper and more defined while veins coursed through his skin as if it were barbed wire. He heard a voice suddenly, a very feminine voice that sang into his ears. Riaris pushed the poll upward where he locked it in place on the bench's handles before sitting up to greet her.

"Ask what you will, but by the look of those arms I would think you should start with just the pole."

[Uopa]

"Oh. I wasn't looking to join you...," Uopa began to explain as he handed her a long, iron pole that reminded her of her blowpipe back at the studio. Hefting it, she decided that it was only slightly heavier than the glassblowing tool. "I wanted to ask you a question about...," but her words were swallowed as he began to place large, round disks on each end of the pole. Obviously, he thought she could handle a little more weight, since the pole itself was lifted rather easily. "I...okay...uh...fine...I'll join you," she sputtered as she began to lift the weighted rod. They worked at this for nearly half a bell, before Uopa decided she needed a break. Well, actually, she needed a break and as much water as her body could consume in one sitting. She was sweaty and parched, and her cotton top was clinging to her torso, so that would need to be stripped off, too. "You, uh, do this often?" she questioned as she pulled her blouse up over her head, thankful that she wore her slim, yet modest undergarments. "I guess once you get to your level...and size...it gets easier, right?" she inquired as she looked around for the nearest fountain. This isn't so bad, she thought as she gulped down handfuls of cold water and ran a little through her damp hair. Actually, I'm sort of having fun. Returning to her spot, she stretched a little before bending her knees - as the Akalak had instructed her - and then she proceeded to lift with her legs and not with her back. He had warned her that it was fairly easy to harm your back if you did not use the proper form while lifting. She also tried to keep her torso locked in place. The goal was to work the arm muscles and only them. Wobbling about would only cause other areas to contract? Constrict? Extend? What exactly had he said again? "Riaris?" she questioned now, having learned his name at some point during the last bell. "What is it called when your muscles tense up, then relax? Is there a specific term you use? I feel like you said something earlier in regard to that." OOCI really hope you don't mind me fleshing out certain small parts, such as you supplying me with the equipment or basic instructions on how to lift. You have the skill and I do not, so it stands to reason that you would be able to help me along. If you do mind me leading the way with certain parts, please say so and I will stop.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Inartan were such tiny people, even smaller than normal humans, but if the little firecracker wanted to train, he wouldn't get in her way, in fact he would even help her. It was a trend apparently as he was also now in charge of training a little konti woman also. Form fitness, combat training, it was all a normal thing for him and helping others with it was easy. Still, this woman was tiny and didn't look like she could lift even the bar. That was until she did...

Riaris was surprised to see her handle the pole the way that she did. It seemed as if it was too easy and a waste of her time. That wouldn't do and so he started to pack on a few weights, nothing huge and he was sure to watch her body language to see when she started to tilt before he stopped. The Akalak nodded when he was ready for her to start and spotted the little human.

They trained for half a bell and Riaris found himself surprised that she could last even that long. For those who's body's aren't used to training, even a minute could seem like half a bell, and half a bell could seem like three full bells. "You're in better shape than I had imagined. You're telling me that you have never trained before?"

Riaris took a seat and allowed the little woman to refresh herself, although the bit of clothing that she removed caused a couple of eyes to wander, and even almost caused a few accidents amongst the other Akalaks in the room with her topless water show. "And Akalak should always remain in full fitness and control of his form. To do this, yes we train like this...everyday mentally and physically."

She was a chatty woman, wanting to know names and other thing about him within the first bell that she met him. He answered her as well as gave her direction and advice on the proper way of lifting. If she had worked out before it surely wasn't in an orthodox fashion. He chuckled inwardly from her question and offered her a retort in return. "If you're not going to listen when I talk, then I see little purpose in repeating myself. But yes, muscles do contract when one is tensed and too tightly wound up."

He spotted her while she finished her arm workout and did so until it seemed that she could barley move them anymore. He took the bar then, lifting it with one arm and placing it back onto the arms of the bench. "Now, if I recall you had a question?"

OOCI don't mind at all.

[Uopa]

"Oh. Yes. I did have a question. Hold that thought," she informed the patient Akalak as she dashed over to where she had left her sketches. Returning, she showed him the first one and noted, "I have been commissioned to design an award for the Form and Fitness Festival." She continued to show him her sketches as she inquired, "So the question I had was, if you were to enter and win a contest at the event, would you rather receive an award in the form of this...," she pointed to a particularly good sketch of Riaris' torso, "...or this?" She motioned to her form now, waving a hand up and down her body. "Well, okay, maybe something a bit more toned, but you get the idea." She dropped the sketches now and gave the Akalak a moment to ponder and reply. As he did, she glanced around the workout space and attempted to figure out what she should do next. She felt...what was the word? Pumped! She could feel the blood rushing through her veins and her muscles aching just enough to tell her that she was doing more good than harm. She wanted to continue. She suddenly felt empowered enough to take on whatever this place had to offer. "Do you think...I can...handle this?" she questioned now as she approached a contraption that looked like something more at home in a chamber of torture. It had an angled bench and several lengths of chain connected to a series of cogs, which, in turn, were connected to a stack of ominous looking blocks of iron. She imagined it would be very painful to get caught between the bricks. Maybe, just maybe, she was pushing herself a little too far. Turning to face Riaris, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her right calf. It was...oh gods...it was horrible! It felt as if something was tugging at the exact same moment it was squeezing the muscles in her leg! It was...excruciating! So much so, she nearly collapsed as she staggered toward a nearby bench. For the love of the gods above and below, what in all the realm was happening?

[Riaris Dovukalis]

This woman, Uopa the name had been mentioned, was an interesting and spirited human woman. Her quick exit and darting across the floor gave Riaris a bit of amusement, as well as anyone else that had been watching the pretty redhead since she started up. He almost smiled, lifting a hand to rub about the back of his neck. Women were so light on their feet and when it came to those of Uopa's size, it even appeared as if they were floating across the floor.

When she returned with her sketches, Riaris looked them over curiously. She was a talented artist, and he was sure that the one sketch looked very familiar. The question she asked caught him off guard. No one had asked such a thing of him before, and being asked by a pretty woman made it all the more...new. She was something, he had to admit, gesturing to her own figure after showing him the sketch to see which he would like better in the form of a carved prize.

His violet lips curved upward in the corner of his mouth as he leaned closer to her, his icy blue eyes staring directly into hers. "If this..is your attempt to get me to notice your body? Let me assure you that every Akalak in this building has noticed you and we are all very pleased."

He leaned back then, his gaze still fixed upon her as he straighten his lips to properly answer her question. "I think that I can speak for all those here when I say we'd much rather receive your form...even if it is just a carving." he finished with a smile then turned away to work the muscles in his shoulders. But, she was off again, looking around at more equipment. It was strange to see, she was suddenly ready to workout as if she were Akalak, when she seemed so timid at first.

It was fine with Riaris, and he would be more than happy to help her work her tiny body until each and every muscle ripped tightly within her soft flesh. However something else happened as she jumped, and quickly limped over to the bench. "Relax, you've probably just have a cramp. Nothing serious." He said after he followed her over. He reached down gently grasping her calf and feeling the tease muscles that clearly showed through her skin. "You'll need to walk it off..come with me." he added, taking her hips with both of his hands and urging her forward.

"Just take it slow, the pain will numb soon." he said, though his tone wasn't in the comforting sort. Riaris continued to hold the tiny hips of the Inartan as he led her around the gym so that she could work off the cramp.

[Uopa]

Thankfully, as quickly as the sharp pain came, it went. Granted, walking it off certainly helped. Having the support and guidance of a skilled Akalak didn't hurt the situation either. Overall, Uopa had to admit, this was turning out to be an interesting visit. "Thank you," she offered as she patted his hands away and started walking on her own again. "So. What's next?" she was quick to question as she not only walked, but began to run in place. "I feel so much better now and I don't want to stop just yet. What else can we do? Please, don't coddle me. I can take it." She began to jog now, seeing that several others were doing the same around the perimeter of the room. "You think about that," she instructed as she continued to dash off, "while I do a lap or two. Okay?" Bounding off, she had little to no form as she ran. However, once she finished her first lap, observing some of the other runners as she went, she seemed to have a slightly better grasp on how to pace herself and where to place her feet as she ran. Her arms, well, they still seemed to be moving at awkward or odd angles, but, so be it. She wasn't hurting anyone...yet. "Th...that was fun!" she remarked as she rejoined Riaris, only after replenishing her fluids with yet another visit to the fountain. "So. What's next?" she repeated her question from earlier. "Unless, well, you would rather be finished with me. I sure hope I haven't been a bother." She dried her face now with a towel she had snatched from a stack by the fountain. "Oh, by the way, I gave my project some thought as I ran and I think I agree with you. For the most part, a female form would be a far better prize. Although, there are probably going to be those who wouldn't mind a male form. So, I'll probably make a few of those, too, just to be on the safe side."