A Hand Up

Posted on 30 Apr 2019 @ 3:22pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri

1,668 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: Deck 07 - Gymnasium
Timeline: MD-52 1600

[ON:]

Matthew looked around the gym. There were a few people here, most were on shift and working. He needed someone to spot him and so he looked about the gym for someone that he thought could help. He saw Constantin Vansen and thought, ~Yeah!~

Walking over to where he was he asked, "Excuse me? Vansen, I'm sorry to bother you. I need someone to spot me on the weight bench. Can you help me out man?"

Vansen looked at him from where he was doing chin ups, dropping down. He had to exercise a lot, build muscles that were used to this. "Depends on how heavy you make it, Lieutenant..." he said lightly, almost playfully. He took the water and drank some before wiping his face on a towel and then his hands.

Matt grinned, "Look at you, you're all beefy. You look like you could spot me. I won't make it too heavy." He said with a nod and a cheeky grin. He asked, "You off early from your shift or are you just playing sick to get some time off?"

"Swapped shifts," Vansen admitted before he smiled and moved to his side. "Happens when someone has a hot date. I don't mind it though, I can adjust to the different patterns without too much of a hassle."

"Ah! So, you're a nice guy I take it? Doing a favor for someone so they can get some alone time with their sweetie? Is that what I'm hearing?" Matt said as they walked to the pull-ups machine. Matthew dried his hands and neck just for good measure as he listened.

"I suppose so," Vansen said with an easy smile, holding his hands out to the side in a shrugging motion. "I mean, I don't have anything better to do except work."

"Oh, we can fix that. Let's get you on a team and do something fun on the ol' hollerdeck ay?" Matt said in a southwestern twang that made him grin so wide his teeth were visible. Matthew adjusted the weight to 27kg (60 lbs) and inserted the pin to hold the weight. Taking another look at Constantin he said, "What sports do you like?" Matthew sat down on the bench, putting his legs under the padded restraining bar. His calves were well worked and when he lifted the heels of his feet the calf muscle bulged out for a moment. Getting comfortable he reached for the overhead bar and grasped it. This exercise would work his shoulders and back. "I'll do some reps on this and then I need your help on the weight bench. Rapid succession from one to the other nkay?"

"Okay," Vansen said, keeping an eye on the weight. He knew his limits. He hoped the other man wouldn't go past them, he didn't fancy breaking his wrist today. "Whatever you need. Want me to count?"

Matt's eyebrows lifted and he laughed so delightfully, so infectiously that it would be hard not to at least smile with him. He looked at Constantin and in mock hurt, put a hand on his heart saying, "Hey, I'm a scientist. I can count to at least ten." He smiled back at him and enjoyed a laugh. Pulling the weight bar down and then letting it slowly back up he completed the first rep. "So?" he asked Vansen, "Do you like hoverball?"

Vansen smiled as he watched him, considering his answer. "I prefer zero g games. More unpredictable I suppose..." he said, honest, his blue eyes warm as he chuckled.

Matthew made another rep, "Yeah? Zero-G Polo, Zamdat, and Cage? Those games? I like those too. Although..." he made another rep and then continued, "...I get sick if I play them too long. You know? Feel like I'm going to puke. I just don't play them enough to get used to it?" He pulled the weight down again as his traps were worked, "Are you any good?"

For a moment, Vansen just grinned at the words. "I'm excellent," he said cockily, nodding encouraging. "But then again, I am bad at any sport that isn't in zero-g so...I suppose it is how the universe balances things."

Last rep and then he let the shoulder press go. He stood up and smiled, "Oh? Ho, ho, ho? Well what do we have here? A zero-g enthusiast? Would you like to test your 'excellence' then?" He said grinning cheekily back as he drank some water. Matthew indicated to the weight bench next and moved in that direction.

Vansen chuckled and followed, shaking his head. "I think I'd have an advantage over you, so I have no qualms in testing my excellence..." he said smoothly and put his hands on his hips. "What makes you so eager to be beaten anyway?"

Matt laughed, guffawed really. His eyebrows lifted as he considered that Constantin and that ego sized chip on his shoulder weren't going to be so easily bested. Matthew set the water bottle down, wiped his sweaty face with the towel and dried his hands on the 'A-shirt' he wore. He straddled the bench, swung his leg over and sat down. "You talk the talk Vansen. Maybe you're pretty good. Maybe you're just...y'know...talkin'?" Matt slid down on the bench and reached for the weight bar. "For the moment...let's assume that you can at least play a decent game of...I dunno...how about Trilateral?" Matthew lifted the bar and 120 pounds (54kg) and began his reps. "When....would you think....you'd like....to be playin'?"

Vansen's eyes went to the weight, judging if he was able to do the same. Yes. As long as it didn't increase, he could. "Anytime," he said, his voice quiet. "I am free later today, or tomorrow. Depending on when it best suits you."

"Ahhrrrghh! I have a duty shift....after this....and for the....next three days. UUnnnnhppfff!! How about....early mornings? PPffffftt!! Are you up then?" Matthew asked as he worked the weight and then finished the set with three more reps. The last two he was in danger of missing the top of the bar to rack it. But, he made it through and then sat up and let his arms fall to the side. "I could use some fun...after a duty shift...you know?"

Vansen shook his head, lightly, his hand going to cover the bar to keep it steady now it had been put back. "I don't do early morning," he said lightly before he smiled. "I need my beauty sleep, Lieutenant."

Plumeri guffawed, "Ha! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk! Beauty sleep? You must not be a 'morning person' then? Does that make you a night owl?" He stood up and gently shook his arms out to help loosen up the muscles. He indicated to the bench, "You're turn if you want?"

Vansen nodded and moved to ease the weight. He didn't need it as heavy, not today. Without a word he got on the bench, grabbing the bar with sure hands. "I am better at night than in the morning," he said lightly before he started to do the presses, breathing through it, muscles straining.

Matt teased openly, "Better at what?" He purposefully meant that innuendo as well. His smile gave it away as he stood at the head of the weight bench ready to assist.

Vansen breathed harder, pushing himself, breathing with it. "Being alive," he said before he grimaced, pushing the bar in place, arms trembling at the last strain.

Matthew assisted him with the weight. At no time would he have Constantin be in danger of losing the weight or it falling on him. He assisted Constantin back and over to the bar's resting place and noticed the strain. "Very good! You ain't too shabby Vansen" Matthew answered overlooking the 'being alive' comment and changing the subject. "So...about that game? I don't have anymore time left on the holodeck this week I'm afraid. So...if we play it'll have to be on your dime?"

"I have holodeck time," Vansen said smoothly before she nodded as he got up, rolling his shoulders. "So yeah, I'd like a game. Because I think you believe you can take me and I want to prove you wrong..." he added the last bit playfully.

Matthew nodded at the challenge, "Awwright...I'm gonna kick your ass Vansen. You name the time? I'll be there." Matt offered him a fistbump to seal the deal.

Vansen watched the fist with some confusion, but made a fist and gently hit it on top. "Okay. I'll send you the details of my next session. If you show up..." he gave a small shrug with his hands, a gesture that seemed almost odd. "Wear sensible clothes."

Matt sat down on the bench for his turn and queried, "For zero-g sports...yeah, I know. I only *look* stupid ok Constantin?" he laughed and shook his head as he laid back and grabbed the bar, "Ay? You going to spot me or admire yourself in the mirror?"

"Sorry," Vansen chuckled at himself and shook his head. "Besides, good to admire yourself in the mirror some time, right? Make sure the hair is right and all that..." he winked, his eyes shining.

Lifting the bar off the bench, he began a new set of reps. "Mmmm-hmmmm", Matt answered with mock indignation. "If you really...wanted to get...admired out there. You'd join up...with the...new Parresis Squares...team I...got going" Plumeri said as he pressed the weights up and down, lifting and lowering them working his chest and arms. "I mean...you know...like a...normal person?"

Vansen looked at him, his eyes blinking slowly. "Depends. If you can handle an abnormal person on it," he said before he grinned, giving a small nod. Yes, maybe he would. Try to act like a normal person.

[OFF:]

LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer/Historian
USS Galileo-A
NCC-80010

&

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations
USS Galileo-A
NCC-80010

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