It’s a Wonderful Day for Parkour

[itmeanstruth]

The twins had returned to the Nexus after a brief visit to their world. It was that time of year again - time for the American Ninja Warrior qualifiers.

For anyone passing through the plaza this beautiful afternoon, the grin on Minoru’s face said it all. He’d beaten the Seattle course, clocked in a great time and scored a spot in the Finals! But this was no time to rest on laurels. There was still a lot to do before he set his sights on Mount Midoriyama again.

“If I’m going to make it all the way to Total Victory this time, I need all the practice I can get!” He exclaimed while hopping on top a picnic table. The plaza and the surrounding areas were full of obstacles to train on. “Anybody want to race? Let’s do it!”

[open for anyone who wants to do a little freerunning or parkour. Either with Minoru or with each other, threadjacking here is fine by me.]

Comments

[rebellisk_tarta]

"Total Victory? Racing? I'm in! This place is new but it looks fun."

Fredrik had followed Hjalmar into the Nexus after Sven and some of the other band members had talked about this other world. Thinking it was a drunken joke the young Swede had actually gone through with it and landed in the Nexus unknowingly as many did. The PINpoint was interesting too as it was now tucked away inside Fredrik's pants so he didn't damage it.

"Nice moves. I'm good at parkour too."

The spry bassist now jumping up onto the picnic table, grinning and then doing a backflip off. A little shaky but none the less one without him falling off.

[sharktoothtotem]

Taylor cracks her neck stretching a little. "I don't know. Doesn't seem like a good challenge without someone shooting at ya." Hey the treasure hunter's used most of her best moves on hunts okay? Though she's in a good mood dressed in her boots, cargos and usual mesh hoodie with a swim top under it. As she speaks she's twisting her hair into a knot.

"Though at least we don't have to run in coats. Ugh winter sucks." Hey she's a surfer, prefers the water to the snow thanks."

[itmeanstruth]

“Oh, hey! Welcome to the Nexus!” Minoru waved. “Fredrik, right?”

Fredrik was one of the newer members of the Ziggy Stardust festival tour, but Minoru recognized him as he approached. (Though the bassist probably recognized Minoru as either ‘that random part-time roadie’ or ‘the Mastermind behind the Skittles Party.’)

He clapped when Fredrik hopped on the table and then flipped off of it. “Sweet!”

And of course, he promptly followed suit, flipping off. He honestly felt a little off, but it looked really clean, and he nailed his landing.

“So, what’s the course? Race to the finish? You lead, me follow?” Minoru happily listed off a few fun parkour options. The plaza was full of chairs, walls, half-walls and fountains, not to mention the surrounding businesses with their rooftops, awnings and signage. “There’s bound to be all kinds of new obstacles in the course this year. I need to be ready for anything!”

[itmeanstruth]

As fun as snow could be, Minoru was also glad for the warmer weather. It made his walks (read: freeruns) to work way more pleasant.

“I know a few places where that could happen, but thankfully not here.” He was grateful for that. Sure, it might be a challenge, but he’d rather stick to the artificial challenge of the clock for right now, thanks. “Rehabbing a gunshot wound would be way too big a hit to the training schedule.”

[sharktoothtotem]

Tay's good with the lack of guns too, as long as the competition's good.

"Yeah, so do I. And well I'm between hunts and surf competitions, so have to stay in shape somehow." She grinned. "Don't worry only weapon I carry on me is my diving knife, and not in the mood to use it at all." It lives in the sheath at the small of her back and she considers it her good luck charm.

Well, this is one way to freerun?

[queenofthehive]

All the running attracted the attention of one the Nexus' less seen denizens. It approaches on all fours, built like a cheetah but the size of a human and slinking like a cat. Play was something they understood and Mother had been very clear about not killing the two legged things that lived here.

"We practice." The words have a low hiss to them mostly from the mouth full of teeth but the idea of playing with something other than its own kind felt like an opportunity that couldn't be passed up. After all, Mother says that back home humans are the enemies and need to be eaten.

[teh_girl_wonder]

Rayan's in one of her school uniforms carrying her bookbag, since it's easier to slip over here to study than going back to the mansion. Too many Robins around there.

"Damn, looks like I'll be up to three working on that paper, because seriously I have some stress a good run would help me get rid of." She's kind of glad she wore soft sole boots today instead of heels with her skirt. Taking off her jacket she folds it setting it on the pile of books along with her bag.

"Looks like more competition this time too. Man, have a feeling other me and demonbrat would hate missing this." They're the two that she has a little more fun with when it comes to competitive activities.

[itmeanstruth]

“Hey Ray!!” Minoru waved energetically, sprinting toward her with a hand raised for high fives. “I made it! I’m going to Vegas again!”

Technically, she helped quite a bit. Her advice helped him get his priorities back in line. He probably never would have made it through this year’s qualifiers if he was still trying to balance school on top of everything else.

[itmeanstruth]

“So what kind of course do you want to run?” He gestured around the plaza and the surrounding buildings. “They’ll throw all kinds of things at me in the Finals, so you pick. I need to practice being surprised.”

Minoru did not see that coming.

[itmeanstruth]

He’d just finished racing one of his friends and went to grab a water bottle when he heard the strange hissing. He turned around, certainly not expecting something that looked like it crawled out of a sci-fi horror film. Needless to say, he jumped onto the bench and almost out of his skin.

“Woah… uh… practice?” He recovered somewhat quickly. This was the Nexus after all, and there were anti-violence fields that kept the really bad things from happening. Like being devoured. Still, that was quite the shock he was trying to laugh off. “Yeah… getting a lot of that today. You… want to race?”

[teh_girl_wonder]

"Awesome!" She high fived him. "Then we have to make sure you knock the competition on their asses right?" She grinned brightly.

"Look like you're happier than the last time we spoke, take it, you did it? How'd your family take it?"

Re: Well, this is one way to freerun?

[sharktoothtotem]

Taylor was sitting back taking a breather after one circuit. Hearing the voice though she glanced over.

"Oh wow, thought I'd see a face-hugger before one of you." She wasn't scared though, after all they're in the nexus, safe place. "You want to race?"

[sharktoothtotem]

"Let's go the hardest track. Though I'll admit I prefer free climbing, though both are needed in my side gig."

[itmeanstruth]

“Surprisingly better than I thought!” He admitted. “Isamu freaked out, but of course he did. School is his thing. Always has been. Always will be.”

That part, he could laugh about.

“I was actually more surprised how Papa reacted. I thought for sure, going back home for the qualifiers, that I’d get the same lectures about being lazy or not applying myself or whatever. But he didn’t… He was almost… supportive?” Minoru scratched his head. “Not of me dropping out, but of me taking my time. Taking classes online. That kind of thing.”

But enrolling in anything, even just a single class, was going to wait until after the Finals this year. He stood his ground on that.

[itmeanstruth]

“Hard track, huh. Free climbing…” He smirked. He could work with that. “Okay, we could do a lap using the buildings. Or we head closer to the industrial sector. They’ve got even bigger buildings down there!”

The mountains themselves would take too long to hike to. It would be dark by the time they got there. And as fun as a nighttime climb could be, Lucifer probably wouldn’t be in the mood for any more rocks falling into his sunrise-watching spot.

[teh_girl_wonder]

"Sounds like my brothers." She chuckled.

"Well at least he didn't lecture you." She looked at the courses. "On that note, give me a few moments to warm up. So glad I wear bike shorts under my skirts." Yes Minoru, this time she is so racing you in her skirt.

[itmeanstruth]

“He may not have been pleased, really… but man, when I made it up the Mega Wall again, he was jumping up and down and waving fans right along with Isamu.”

Minoru stretched a little himself, keeping himself loose between matchups with all his friends.

“No problem at all. Go ahead.” He nodded. “Where do you want to race this time? Challenger’s pick. I need all the surprises I can get before Vegas.”

[sharktoothtotem]

"Sounds perfect. Though only if you think you can do it. I don't want to push someone into things they're not ready for yet." Hey, she may be a reckless treasure hunter and surfer, but she wasn't going to let someone else be reckless.

Midnight climbs are the best, but yeah, she knows the kid's training, she's just having fun, no overworking him, that's for his competition! "And that's a run actually, three quarters of a mile circuit, perfect for a warm up,"

[itmeanstruth]

No need to worry about Minoru. He had freeclimbed way higher things than they would find in the industrial district. It was usually in Hunger City, though, not the Nexus. He did end up in the newspapers in Ziggy’s world once, when he and Joe attempted a climb in New York City. (One of the more memorable headlines read ‘Rock Star and Spider Fan Arrested for Skyscraper Climb.’)

“I’m game for that! And that does sound like a great warmup.” He agreed.

Of course, if Minoru happened to hop a few walls, balance on a few railings or swing from a few overhangs along the way, so be it. That was all part of the warmup too. And for the traceur, it was actually really hard to keep his feet on the ground when there were so many other fun things to use.

[teh_girl_wonder]

"Man, sorry I missed being there in your cheering section." She started in on simple stretches. "Would have loved to have seen it. Though you know damn well I'm going to be dragging my siblings and our friends when you're in Vegas. Well not Baby Brat, he's too young for a Vegas trip." Yeah we're not bringing a 13 year old to Vegas!

It was clear that she hadn't lost any flexibility playing the good student in the Batclan.

"Hm Challenger's pick, and guessing you don't care what's thrown at us right?" She looked around. "Forty percent ground, then percent air, and the last fifty being off structure, around the main square twice?" Should get you some practice jumping around."

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru shrugged. “For the qualifiers, I kind of like to keep it really small. Just Isamu and my parents, really.”

The qualifiers looked really awesome on TV, but they were kind of boring for live spectators. There were a lot of people to get through. That meant a lot of waiting for your turn, and a lot of watching people crash and burn. The Finals, though, were every bit as exciting live as they were on TV, maybe even more so.

“Wouldn’t surprise me if Ziggy buys out an entire section of the stands again this year. I’m sure you can get in on some seats with the big group.”

And if for some reason, he didn’t, Minoru would make sure to help everyone order some tickets. Anyone who wanted to come cheer him on was welcome!

“Okay, so, that’s, what, half a lap on the buildings, using those banners across the road over there as a slack line, and then two laps around the plaza itself?”

[tielle_mortevus]

Parasol in hand, a slight grin creeps across her lips at the thought of a new challenge. It's been a while since the peaceful environment of the Nexus gave her a chance to let loose, let alone with a little friendly competition.

"I suppose I could make some time for a little fun. I'll try to hold back a little bit, but forgive me if I get lost in the heat of the moment."

She gave Minoru a smile as she slipped off her heels, tucking them into her bag.

[itmeanstruth]

“Nah, you don’t need to hold back. If you win, you win! I sure don’t mind!” Minoru smiled, speaking with playfulness and sincerity. “I’m Minoru, by the way. I don’t think we’ve met.”

A race would be a fun way of getting to know another traceur, definitely!

“What do you want run? Around the plaza, floor is lava style? Down the streets? On the rooftops? You can pick. The more surprises, the better the practice!”

[tielle_mortevus]

She gave a slight chuckle, glancing around the plaza.

"Tielle, it's a pleasure." She smiled giving him a slight nod.

It was a bit too open in the plaza, and definitely far too bright for her tastes. Looking over towards the cramped alleyways branching off the main plaza, she gestured over to them.

"How about the winding alleyways around the plaza? If you can catch me, you win. Though, I won't make it easy for you."

She gave him a sly grin before pulling out a flask and taking a sip.

[itmeanstruth]

It was Challenger’s Pick as far as Minoru was concerned. And Tielle was the challenger - a challenger with a potion of some kind. This was probably not going to be your normal freerun.

“All right, sure!” He nodded. “If you made it easy, it wouldn’t be vey fun. Would it?”

Win or lose, the alleys had a lot of tight corners and walls. It would be good practice for some of the more narrow obstacles.