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[color=#04ed42][b]#04ed42[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019806ab-5bf3-73c1-af11-60d7bfbd86f0.webp][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]Party[/b][/color]
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[indent][color=darkgray] The key to testing the aptitude of children of classical gods was, of course, a surprisingly well-made copy of some army boot camp’s obstacle course. If Tapeesa hadn’t seemed so serious about this whole thing the day before and performed some kind of magical ritual to heal his foot, Nate would have laughed his way back to Nevada. He didn’t understand the why, the how, or what a jewelry store packaging had to do with the “dangers” they would face. However… he did know one thing and one thing only: he liked games and competitions. He leaned forward in his seat, watching River move through the course with a speed and comfort that said a lot about the man’s upbringing.

When his name was called in the first batch, Nate quickly rose to his feet and shed his hoodie. He set it down next to Tapeesa, giving her a small smile. [color=#04ed42]”Wish me luck, Tappi.”[/color] He lingered for a half a second, his eyes drifting to the course and then back to her. He never liked having his pockets empty, but the prevalence of water would certainly be a problem. His hands slipped into the pockets of his sweatpant and produced the box of cigarettes and his lighter, tossing them onto his hoodie. [color=#04ed42]”I’ll be back in no time.”[/color]

He shoved his hands in his empty pockets as he approached the rest of the gathered group of runners. He could faintly recall some of their faces from the party the night before. The man seemed to be far more focused on the only [i]truly[/i] familiar face in the bunch: Andy. He did his best to keep a bit of distance as they grouped up, his eyes trailing the audience until he was able to get a good look at a certain jilted lover in the crowd. Nate’s best bet was just to stay back and not talk to her, lest he provoke-

[color=bd1664]"I’m sorry… about last night."[/color] Nate winced, his body freezing in his place for a moment.  [color=bd1664]"I should have said something. I always thought those girls who immediately drop the [i]‘I have a boyfriend’[/i] shit were…"[/color] Nate’s body relaxed, looking back at Andy as she spoke. His posture relaxed slightly as he took in the words and the apology. [color=bd1664]"It doesn’t matter. It was shitty. I’m sorry if I led you on and for how my boyfriend acted."[/color] 

Nate nodded, turning his gaze back towards Mason for a brief moment. His tone was light with a hesitant caution slowing his speech a little. [color=#04ed42]”I… get it. I danced with the wrong person, you didn’t want to make things weird. Not the first time it’s happened, just glad I only walked away with a twisted ankle.”[/color] He offered a small smile, giving Andy’s boyfriend a slight wave before facing her again. [color=#04ed42]”It’s all good. Got patched up and had a good time. Just… maybe warn the next guy up front.”[/color]

As Andy turned to face the obstacle course, he did much the same. He lowered himself down to one knee, tightening his tennis shoes as he eyed up his competition. Andy looked a lot more athletic than he had first judged, the slavic guy seemed fairly intense, and the other dark-haired woman seemed equally fit and focused. Nate tried to offer a somewhat reassuring smile to the nervous woman in the group, but he knew damn well it would mean little in these circumstances. The obstacle course was intimidating in its appearance, and was designed to work out every part of the body. Nate was just glad he wouldn’t feel the pain that came from straining himself.

When the time was called to start, Nate didn’t shoot out to match the other’s speed. He knew an endurance test when he saw one, and instead focused on making sure he didn’t end up falling flat on his face like the night prior. The tires were simple, and he bobbed himself side to side in a steady rhythm as he crossed them. As soon as his last foot passed the tires, he sprinted for the log jumps. While he wasn’t a star athlete, he had done enough hurdles in high school for track and field his freshman year to easily launch himself over the first three logs. When it came to the fourth log, he didn’t feel like risking it. He placed both hands on the top of the log, using momentum and a jump to easily climb over. The last one required a bit more effort, forcing him to climb up and straddle the top for a moment. He sat there for a brief moment, looking out towards the small crowd of onlookers and giving a small wave. He locked eyes with Tapeesa for only a second, offering a smile before swinging a leg over and dismounting.

It took Nate a moment to find some momentum as he crawled through sand. He did awkwardly slam his spine up against the frame once or twice at the beginning, but didn’t even grunt at the sensation. While his hands were red by the end of the rope climb, he was still smiling like an idiot as he deftly crossed the net bridge. He was gaining back some of the speed he lost, still narrowly tailing behind the raven haired woman as he picked up some speed. The rope swing was simple enough as he cleared the water, landing hard into a roll as he held on for a little too long. He tumbled over his back and onto his ass, shaking his head as he picked himself up and continued running. He nearly sprinted over the balance beams, using the momentum and outstretched arms to surge past a stumbling Maylisse for a brief moment.

Swimming was something Nate had done, sure. He spent his summers in some local pools with friends to get out of the heat, but he was never the most competitive of swimmers. His dive in was clumsy, the sudden shock of water into his system causing him to flail slightly as he started his overhead strokes. He eventually managed to find the rhythm, taking in gasping breaths when he realized he had forgotten. Through the brief glimpses of the lanes next to him, he saw that what tiny lead he had over Maylisse had disappeared within moments. What little hope Nate had of showing off dissipated within a moment.

At the end of the swim, Nate pulled his sopping wet form out of the pool and spit out a bit of water into the sand. He tilted his head up towards the ladder, letting out a sigh as he picked himself up and pushed forward. He trailed behind the others ahead of him, forgetting about one of the Russians that trailed behind him. Nate clawed at each log, pushing himself hard without the need for a break from the ache of muscles. While his body felt heavy, his need to seem competent was heavier. When he crawled over the top rung, he nearly toppled over as he used a little too much force. His body shot over the top, his hands desperately clinging onto the log for stability. He shifted his grip, tilting his body sideways through the air. His ribs slammed into the rung below him, while he lifted his legs slightly to catch onto the rung below that. He let out a nervous, manic laugh as he found purchase, narrowly avoiding a rather embarrassing disaster. He scrambled down quickly enough from there, and easily launched himself over the pool of water near the end to keep with a sprint. As he crossed the finish line and felt the moisture get sucked out from his shirt and sweats, he shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered his way back into the stands to return to his seat without so much as a word. His ego was bruised enough, he didn’t exactly care much to know his exact time compared to the others.

When Nate sat down next to Tapeesa again, he put on a brave smile. [color=#04ed42]”I think I swallowed some sand. Is that bad?”[/color]
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[hr]Location: Dance Floor
Interactions: Tapeesa and Andy [@Mjolnir]
Mentions (in his thoughts): Sylas, Sloane, Maylisse, River