xp_logs | Korvus and Molly: Lifting While the Lifting's Good

Korvus studies weight lifting more and returns to the gym to challenge himself. Molly is not challenged at all.

Korvus had attempted Olympic weightlifting at what he thought was near his potential not long ago. After further research he had found that a weight belt and support shirt dramatically increased a person's maximum load and that straps to surpass the capability of a person's grip were used in some lifts as well. With this new information in mind he returned to the gym in a support shirt and, upon arriving, tightly cinched a weight belt on as he prepared himself. Having done the mathematical calculations, and having received permission to use the special equipment for people with power a set like his, he loaded the bench press for his first attempt to officially record himself doing more than double the current human record.

Molly wandered into the gym, tossing her pink racquetball that she had drawn a pig nose on and wings and named Frank up and down. She spotted the new guy she'd met on the journals but not in real life in the weight area and headed over.

"Hi Korvus!" she said with a grin as she waved. "I haven't met you in person so I thought I'd say hi! So hi!"

"Hello Molly." Korvus said with a smile as he finished loading the plate. He moved to her and offered his hand, despite the finger less weight lifting glove covering it. "It is my pleasure to meet you."

It was nice to be polite. That's what her mom and daddy had told her. So Molly shook Korvus' hand. "Oooh, me too!" she said.

She immediately noticed his gloves. "Why are you wearing those?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

"The gloves are to assist my grip and protect the skin of my hands during weight lifting." Korvus set a hand on the bar he had just loaded to indicate the exercise he was about to do.

Molly blinked, her eyes widening. "Really?" she said, her mouth falling open. "It can take your SKIN off?"

Korvus nodded, "While I am more durable than someone without my mutation, I am also attempting to lift more than that hypothetical person could. It stands to reason that, at this weight, I may encounter mundane difficulties."

"Oh..." Molly said with a nod and a frown. That didn't sound right, but it was probably cause when she used her powers Monet was there and Monet was strong too so she didn't have problems.

"That's weird."

It was the first thing that came to mind to say. She didn't mean to. It just blurted out.

Korvus sat on the bench. "I have been informed you are invulnerable. That would certainly alleviate any concerns you may have." He laid back, getting his hands into position on the bar and shifting a bit on the bench as he prepared.

"Yeah....I guess that's true!" Molly said as she wandered over to stand in front of him to watch him lift, craning her head a little to get a look. It seemed like it too a long time for him to get ready. She wondered if that was normal.

"So how much weight is it?"

"I am beginning with one ton, which is approximately twice the weight of the current world record." Korvus paused in conversation, focusing as he raised the bar off the bench, pressed it once, and returned it. The bar wobbled a bit but it appeared to be a result of Korvus needing practice with the exercise more than having trouble with the weight. He sat back up once he completed the motion so he could continue the conversation politely.

Molly's head mimicked the raising and lowering of the bar as he picked it up and put it down. "Good job!" she said, clapping her hands entirely truthfully. Cause that was a lot for other people, right?

"Do you have super strength too?" But not the invulnerable part maybe....he did say skin might come off.

"My research has suggested that, as my mutation is generalized as opposed to specialized, that 'super' may not be an apt description. I am more physically capable than any average person in almost every way but I understand there are many here whom exceed me in certain limited aspects." Korvus offered to clarify his power set.

Molly paused, blinking at him for a few moments as she tried to figure out what he just said, or at least run it through her Molly filter.

"So you're like...better than humans at stuff but not like Superman?"

"I was not allowed to read comic books as a child. I don't feel familiar enough with his capabilities to make a comparison." Korvus admitted.

"Really?" Molly said with wide eyes and a hushed whisper, completely stunned.

"No comic books? At all?"

That was so mean!

"None at all." Korvus confirmed. "My father was more strict than most. It is common among the military minded."

Molly frowned deeply. "Wow," she said, then immediately brightened.

"Do you want to read some of mine?"

Korvus nodded, "That would be appreciated. Thank you." They were clearly an important part of the local culture.

"You're welcome! I think you'd like Superman. He's nice. Batman's kinda...dark, and stuff," Molly said, then after a moment circled the weights a little, peering at them. "Can I try?" she asked, glancing up at him with a hopeful grin..

"Please." Korvus nodded and stood from the bench before agreeing with Molly's assessment. "It does seem as though I would prefer Superman to Batman."

"He's totally cool. He's like all...'Truth, justice, and the American way!' I guess the Earth way cause he helps save the earth. But he can fly and punch things and has x-ray vision and super breath and laser vision eyes," Molly said as she took a seat on the bench then laid down.

After a moment of concentration, she clapped her hands together, then rubbed them. She had done some of the stuff on the bench when she and Monet trained and stuff so she carefully took a seat and laid down on the bench. Reaching up for the bar, her tiny fingers gripped around it and a violet glow spread across her eyes as she lifted the weights effortlessly from the bar, holding them up over her head in mid air.

She looked up at the weights before suddenly swinging her legs off the bench to sit up, still holding the weights over her head.

"Tada!"

Korvus clapped softly for her. "Very impressive. You are significantly stronger than I am, clearly." He smiled encouragingly, actually quite excited to see her performance and the capability of a dedicated mutation instead of his more generalized power set.

"Thanks!" Molly said, beaming, as she set down the weights back on the bar holder thingy.

"Monet's been teaching me how to lift and punch stuff without falling asleep," she said with a bit of a yawn at the end.

"I haveta drink a lotta caffeine and I didn't drink any yet so I'm a litttttle sleepy now."

"Would it be beneficial if I made something for you to eat after I attempt the squat and deadlift?" Korvus offered helpfully as he moved to the bar he had prepared for a deadlift, wrapping straps around his wrists.

Molly rubbed her eyes and headed over to one of the other benches, taking a seat. Her eyes looked droopy. "It's cool! I can take a nap since you're lifting stuff....I don't wanna mess up your lifty time."

Korvus nodded to Molly. "I will wake you afterward." He consented as he began his next exercise.

Stretching her arms, Molly curled up on the bench into a tiny Molly ball and closed her eyes.

"Kay," she murmured.

Attempting the lifts didn't take long. Korvus was only testing his limits, after all. When he moved to Molly so they could go to the kitchen, he found she was quite deeply asleep. "Molly." He said her name softly. He didn't want to startle her, only wake her.

Molly was fast asleep, her hat having fallen into her eyes. She used to napping in odd places when she used her powers to lift the heavier heavier things. She covered her face with her hand, quite content with where she was.

Korvus sighed and scooped her up. He couldn't leave her sleeping on a bench, right? He'd carry her to the recreation room so that she wasn't napping in some random place. People slept in the recreation room all the time.

Resting her head on Korvus's shoulder, Molly's arm draped over his back the trip there. The moment he laid her on the couch she snuggled into the inside, nearly disappearing into the cushions because of her size.

After covering her up with a blanket, Korvus turned the lights down low and headed out. He still wanted to cook and he planned to have something for her to snack on when she woke up.