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[vecna]

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[vecna]

[How dare Alec tease him with a moment in which he thinks he’s actually going to fare decently well? That his long-limbed blessing actually provides him with a chance of keeping up with him? Well, those hopes are banished the moment the other man rushes forward, outpacing him as though Henry were only walking, and—

Shit.

All right. Alec is definitely in better shape than him, but Henry holds steadfast to the illusion that he can at least get through this with no issue on his part. When he reaches the monkey bars, he’s only a little winded from the sprint — but when he grasps at them (his experience with these are so, so limited), and gravity pulls the rest of his weight down, his arms begin to hate him.

Like, really hate him.

He does not have the upper body strength for this. Bar by bar, his muscles strain and call him out for this betrayal. When Alec turns to look at him—is he already there at the top of that wall?—Henry is just short of halfway through, and every bit of progression is a struggle.

He can practically feel Alec’s gaze on him. Through gritted teeth:]

Shut up.

[HE DIDN’T EVEN SAY ANYTHING YET]

[striketwice]

I didn't say anything.

[ Oh, but the shit-eating grin is there, on his face and in his tone. There's something sort of charming about watching Henry, poor poor Henry, struggle his way through out of some misguided attempt to conserve his pride.

Alec takes a seat on the top of the wall, feet dangling and elbows resting on his knees. ]

Guessing they skipped arm day at the lab.

[ Ah, there it is. ]

[vecna]

[There it is. Fuck you, too, Alec Brennan.]

I said... [The adamant tone he's trying to take is lessened by how winded he sounds.] Shut... up. This body-

[He can't see the look on Alec's face, but he can hear that tone clearly, and imagines him sitting there, looking smug. Probably resting his elbows on his knees or something.

Henry keeps an iron stare fixed on the bars, neck craned up as he takes them one at a time. Pure stubbornness and unbending pride somehow push him through it, though he is slow, and not very graceful, and he "skips" the last two at the end by simply letting go a little early.

His arms are on fire. What was he saying?]

This body is- [Trying to catch his breath.] -human. And weak.

[The usual excuse.]

[striketwice]

[ He just sits there, smug king of smugness at the top of his mountain, watching Henry struggle through. He really did make it almost to the end of the monkey bars. He's impressed. And strangely endeared. ]

I've heard it before, Henry. What are you gonna do if that's the body you stay stuck with, huh?

[vecna]

[He almost made it to the end, yes, but now his arms are rebelling, and he has a wall to climb.

At least now he can walk to said wall, looking up at Alec. He’s still catching his breath, face tinged a little pink from the exertion.

Sarcasm alert:]

Maybe I’ll visit that other dimension again, let it change me back. What do you think of that?

[striketwice]

And get rid of that pretty face of yours?

[ A grin. ]

What a shame that would be.

[vecna]

[Despite the fact that he nearly DIED on the monkey bars, and that Alec is being snarky, the words and his grin are still... disarming. Damn it. Henry pushes that blooming warmth aside; he'll pass it off as just too much exercise.]

At least I'd be strong.

[Speaking of, he grasps hold of the rope and... Ugh. He has to climb this? How did Alec get up there so fast?]

[striketwice]

[ You didn't nearly die, Henry. It's fine.

Alec watches him take up the rope. Apparently he's still determined. Cute. ]

Awful hard to hold onto monkey bars when you're made of slime and one of your hands is a giant claw. Just saying.

[vecna]

[ almost died >8[

Grips the rope tight, tries to heft himself up-]

I’m not made—

[PULLS, scuffling at the wall with the soles of his shoes. This is really a sorry sight. What have you reduced Vecna to. WITH GREAT EFFORT:]

-of slime!

[striketwice]

But you are slimy.

[ One might even say... squelchy.

As an aside: ]

Use the footholds.

[vecna]

[Don't even start with squelchy.]

Everything... there is slimy.

[It's basically a half-hearted aside, without even thinking, because that great effort left him with making no vertical progress and even more jello-like arms.

Use the footholds.

...There are footholds?

Looks down, finds one, catches the toe of his shoe against a foothold and rises up just a little.]

You couldn't have said so before?

[striketwice]

[ Henry..... stop being so cute. It's killing him. ]

I figured you would have seen them.

1/2

[vecna]

[He's not being cute. This is terrible.

And he's not dignifying that with a response, seeking footholds and slowly, oh-so wretchedly slowly, pulling himself up one by one. His arms are going to be sore until endgame.

But this man is nothing but motivated, to the point where it's a character flaw, and so he drags himself just high enough to reach out with one arm and fling it over the top of the wall, hooking himself against it and clinging on for dear life.

Out of breath once more.]

2/2

[vecna]

[And then... stubbornly-]


I told you... I could do it.

[striketwice]

[ He'll save Henry the blow to his pride that might occur by offering him a hand up. Instead he just watches him labor his way to the top, grinning all the while. ]

Do what? We've still got like 90% of the course to go.

[ Motions to... everything behind him. ]

[vecna]

[90 percent? Fuck youuuuu

Give him a moment, he's trying so hard to pull himself up so he can manage to sit on the top of this wall in the same manner.

It's a strain.]

I said I could... keep up. And now... I'm caught up.

[striketwice]

[ They can sit here for a moment, then, while Henry catches his breath. It doesn't appear that Alec has so much as broken a sweat. ]

I guess you are.

[ But only because he stopped to watch. ]

[vecna]

[He manages to heft himself up into a sit, still catching his breath. Give him a moment. He's going to be so sore.]

You surprised me.

[Okay, he'll admit that much.]

[striketwice]

Trained mercenary, remember? Just what did you think that entailed?

[vecna]

For you? Clever use of magic, mostly.

[striketwice]

That's really only half of it.

[ Also Henry you have SEEN HIM NAKED how did you not know he was fit. Pls. ]

All the magic in the world won't help me if I can't hold my own in a fight in the first place.

[vecna]

[Being fit and BLASTING THROUGH THE OBSTACLE COURSE AT LIGHTSPEED are two entirely different things in his head, all right?]

So does that mean constant visits to the gym in your world?

[striketwice]

[ SIR... ]

I like to keep a somewhat regular schedule, yeah. Why? Interested in joining me?

[vecna]

[This time, he does scoff-laugh in-between breaths.]

No. Why would I need to?

[striketwice]

So you don't get your ass kicked by monkey bars?

[ Amused. ]

And there are other benefits, you know.