[ Around the last thirty is where he starts to slow down to a crawl. His arms are shaking all through the last fifteen, but he stubbornly drags himself to the end with that same furious glare stuck on his face.
When he hears the two-hundred count he immediately collapses on his stomach. Turns his head to the side as he gasps for air, one cheek pressed into the mat and sticking there with sweat.
He needs water. A break between sets, but not too long a break, or he could lose this momentum. Would Aeryn have allowed him time between push-ups and sit-ups? Would there be breaks when he had to do this over again with the rest of the class? He’s not really sure. He’s not even glad he finished the set. He’s still thinking about Terra on Grey and Corvo in stasis and Wade transferred and how blazing two-hundred push-ups wasn’t enough to help him forget. ]
I need... to do more.
[ He stiffly moves his arms to push himself up, (two-hundred-one) and sits. He’s still catching his breath as he looks up at Shepard. ]
[There's a part of her that goes sharp at the wet thud of him collapsing to the mat, a small voice that she shouldn't be letting him do this. It hasn't been that long since Macha and nanites or no, freakish elf stamina or no, he's still been pushed hard.
But he's angry. And this is good for that part of him. Better than a whole list of alternatives she can think of. So crisp and clear and as flat as she can make it:]
Sit-ups.
[She moves to where he's left his canteen, fetching it up off the mats before gravitating back and passing it over.]
[ He takes the canteen, practically rips the cap off and drinks. Half of it's down before he comes up for air in more gasps, but he calms quickly enough after a few deep, controlled breaths. They exhale with steam again as he tries to clear his head, to focus on the tasks still to come.
He sits quietly a few minutes more with Shepard, waiting while his heart settles back to a quieter pace. Doesn't want to say anything, and doesn't need her to say anything more either. When he's ready he caps the bottle and sets it aside. Lies back on the mat and stares up at the bright lights and metal ceiling, brows knotting. ]
Two-hundred.
[ He stuffs his hand behind his head, locks the fingers there, and starts. He's fast out the gate again. Has to be if he wants to get through this next set. Shepard may not have expected any cadets to meet Aeryn Sun's goals, but that didn't mean any cadets didn't expect to. ]
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no subject
When he hears the two-hundred count he immediately collapses on his stomach. Turns his head to the side as he gasps for air, one cheek pressed into the mat and sticking there with sweat.
He needs water. A break between sets, but not too long a break, or he could lose this momentum. Would Aeryn have allowed him time between push-ups and sit-ups? Would there be breaks when he had to do this over again with the rest of the class? He’s not really sure. He’s not even glad he finished the set. He’s still thinking about Terra on Grey and Corvo in stasis and Wade transferred and how blazing two-hundred push-ups wasn’t enough to help him forget. ]
I need... to do more.
[ He stiffly moves his arms to push himself up, (two-hundred-one) and sits. He’s still catching his breath as he looks up at Shepard. ]
Sit-ups or... or lunges next?
no subject
But he's angry. And this is good for that part of him. Better than a whole list of alternatives she can think of. So crisp and clear and as flat as she can make it:]
Sit-ups.
[She moves to where he's left his canteen, fetching it up off the mats before gravitating back and passing it over.]
no subject
He sits quietly a few minutes more with Shepard, waiting while his heart settles back to a quieter pace. Doesn't want to say anything, and doesn't need her to say anything more either. When he's ready he caps the bottle and sets it aside. Lies back on the mat and stares up at the bright lights and metal ceiling, brows knotting. ]
Two-hundred.
[ He stuffs his hand behind his head, locks the fingers there, and starts. He's fast out the gate again. Has to be if he wants to get through this next set. Shepard may not have expected any cadets to meet Aeryn Sun's goals, but that didn't mean any cadets didn't expect to. ]