Strength of the Lion

by **Leo Eskandari** » Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:24 pm

Leo, in nothing but red shorts, had set himself up in one of the superstrength rated weight machines. His muscles rippled under his black fur as he tested his limits. He wouldn't be benching cars, but he might just be able to roll one over with some effort. He was grinning. Despite everything, even minor superstrength was pretty cool. He wasn't even ashamed of his exposed beastliness at the moment. Of course, he was currently alone.

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by **Nailah Weaver** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:24 pm

Nailah walks in, making a beeline to the nearby treadmills. She's got a baggy t-shirt on and a skirt with workout-shorts underneath. She gives Leo a small wave before turning the treadmill on and starting a light warm-up jog.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:40 pm

Leo took a break to breathe and study the sphinx girl. What were the odds someone else at the school would look like a mythological part-human cat monster?

"Hey," he said, adding for lack of something better to say, "Nice wings."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:52 pm

"Thanks! Nice muscles." she says before her brain catches up to her mouth. "I... uh... I mean... the weight and the lifting and stuff..."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:58 pm

He smirked at her awkwardness. "Yeah, they are pretty wicked. Still gettin' used tah them though. I keep bending the silverware, like every meal."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:24 pm

"Still, huh? Yeah, powers can be a lot sometimes."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:38 pm

"Yeah, this... this is a recent issue," he said, motioning to his broad, mostly felinoid frame.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:12 pm

"Oh, like... the whole thing? Dang, that's a late mutation."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:28 pm

"No, I..." he said, hesitating to talk about it with someone who didn't already know, "I guess you could call it a secondary mutation. I looked like an ordinary human a few months ago."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:36 pm

"Oof. That's a lot. It took almost a year for all of my stuff to grow in. It was pretty freaky not knowing what was going on and all."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:54 pm

"It was terrifying," he answered with a haunted look that quickly faded.

"So how long have you been like that?" he asked as he moved to an adjacent treadmill.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 5:01 pm

"Yeah... It started when I was thirteen, just itchy and weird at first but then for like a week my back and legs hurt like heck."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 5:10 pm

"Everything hurt. It was like I was on fire, inside and out," he said with a fresh haunted look. "And I was hungry. So, so hungry."

He could practically still hear the bleating of a terrified goat and the coppery taste of its blood as he had torn into it.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:30 pm

"Okay that sounds way worse. I'm sorry, dude."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:41 pm

He gave an effort to put on a weak smile as he started his treadmill. "Thanks. It doesn't hurt anymore. It's just taking a while to adjust, especially to the new instincts crowding my head. Tereza gave me some solid advice though."

"Do you have those or just the physical features?"

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:59 pm

"Nah, I just got the animal-bits with none of the animal-brains."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:07 pm

He grunted as he built up speed. "You're lucky. I got a mixed-up chimaera thing in my head. Lion, scorpion, a little snake I think, and whatever the hell has horns like these."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:17 pm

"Goat maybe?"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:23 pm

He visibly shuddered. "Maybe. I hope not. Goats are jerks with creepy-ass eyes."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:11 pm

"You're not very happy about this whole... situation, are you?"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:14 pm

"Is it that obvious?" he laughed ruefully.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:20 pm

"Little bit. It's alright, it's new and scary."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:31 pm

He almost caved and explained how it was more complicated. Instead, he asked, "How did you deal with changing?"

by **Nailah Weaver** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:21 pm

"I was lucky. My parents knew about mutants and all that and explained it to me, so I at least knew what was happening. I don't know, it never really bothered me that much. I mean I can fly! But I don't have any animal urges in my head, so that probably helps. It's just... who I am and I try to turn it into something I can be proud of."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 7:54 pm

"Yeah, I didn't have that. My aunt and uncle weren't open to mutants and I didn't think my friends would understand either. And when they found out, it turned out I was right. So when this happened, I didn't have anyone but the bastards who did it to me."

His eyes widened. He hadn't meant to say that.

"Wait! I mean... shit. I wanted this to be a normal conversation."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:14 pm

"I'm a sphinx and you're some kinda chimera. I think we're well past normal. If you don't wanna talk about what happened to you you don't have to, but you don't need to be embarrassed or anything."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:22 pm

After some hesitation, he said, "Y'know how that Tosh guy got nabbed by his mad scientist granddad? Well, long story short, he took me a few months ago and injected me with something that turned me into this."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:42 pm

"Oof, that really sucks. Some people are just the worst, hurting others just cause they think they know better or don't care or they're selfish."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:59 pm

"My roomie thinks I should do what you did; try tuh turn it into something good, like, be a big, hairy hero."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:37 pm

"You don't have to. It's what I want to do and I like it. If you'd rather, I dunno, do shot-put or paint or whatever then you do that, you know? You gotta do what you enjoy and not what people expect."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 7:51 pm

"No one's gonna expect a friggin manticore tuh be the good guy. Besides, I may be good at shop class shit but I dunno what the hell I really want tuh do yet."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 5:04 am

"Who cares what people are gonna expect? If you wanna write poetry then have at it. If you wanna kick the bad guys or chainsaw trees into tables then that's cool too."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:18 pm

"I don't care what other people expect," he said a little defensively.

"So what's heroing like anyway?"

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 4:26 pm

"You get roughed up. A lot. And it's pretty hit or miss if people actually thank you or notice. But when they do it's the best thing in the world. Well... second best thing behind flying."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 4:40 pm

"I might not be able to fly, but getting roughed up I could always handle," he said almost proudly, "And now I heal faster."

"I think I'd like that feeling."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 6:37 pm

"The world can always use more good guys."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 7:37 pm

He grunted. "I never thought I'd be one of them, but I think I'd like to try."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:50 pm

"Why not? You seem like your heart's in the right place. Just a bit... gruff."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:58 pm

"Never thought I was 'Good' enough, I guess. Can't really say why. Not exactly. "

by **Nailah Weaver** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:48 pm

"You never know until you try!"

[Social] Strength of the Lion

[Social] Strength of the Lion

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