[b][h2][color=cyan]Minerva[/color] & [color=fff200] Griff [/color][/h2][/b]

Collab between [@digmata] and [@Dezuel]


The more words that exited Sparks mouth, the more sparks ignited in Griff's head. The blond's hands tightened as he turned towards Sparks.

[color=fff200][b]"So you are basically a mechanic with a hobby! Gotcha. As for a bigger man? We'll see about that! Well looks like you've got some guts after all!"[/b][/color] Griff scoffed and crossed his arms, closing his eyes momentarily as he addressed Sparks from a distance. 

[color=fff200][i]'I'll show that guy later!'[/i][/color] He thought as his attention snapped to Serah approaching.[color=fff200][b]"Huh? What? Yo."[/b][/color] He said in a surprised way, then he recalled. [color=fff200][i]'Wait a second. Wasn't this the girl who was more awesome than the rest of us?'[/i][/color] His eyes scanned over her from top to toe, a slight flush at his face as he took in a few parts. Momentarily forgetting that this girl was one of his primary rivals [color=fff200][b]"Aha hah! Training! Sure I do!"[/b][/color] He began to lift up his shirt to show off his abs. 

[color=fff200][b]"These abs didn't grow on their own. You can show yours later! Nothing builds character as well as working up a good sweat! And I am all about character."[/b][/color] He gave a cheeky wide grin. [color=fff200][b]"Oh if you want I could show you some good training later! But for now I gave the offer to this gal here! I could of course bring both of you, but see that guy over there? He would get the wrong idea."[/b][/color] He nodded his head in the direction of Arrish. 

[color=fff200][b]"So catch you abit later allright? Once I am done with Miss Olympus here heh."[/b][/color] He looked Serah over. For some reason he wasn't feeling angry anymore. Having almost completely forgotten about Sparks' challenge, his attention set on Minerva again. [color=fff200][b]"Soo...?"[/b][/color] He smirked.

Miverva's eyebrows would twitch at the insensitive comments thrown to her. She was initially planning to prepare her room and take a walk around before finally resting. But something, something about this man grinds the gears in her mind the wrong way.

She let out a sigh hiding any annoyance she is currently feeling in favor of showing a face of disinterest. [b][color=cyan]A good mask could save her a lot of grief in the future after all.[/color][/b]

[b][color=cyan]”Is there anything you want from me? You've been looking in my direction for quite a while now.”[/color][/b] Minerva asked, looking him in the eye.

[color=fff200][b]"Oh yeah! So you wanna do something physical together? You have a killer body! Also what's with that Project?"[/b][/color] Griff said in a ponderous tone, looking over Minerva and locking eyes with her. "Oh the name's Griff, what's yours? Also aren't you abit too pretty to be a pilot?" 

He said in a slightly teasing tone, before motioning towards a corridor in the distance. [color=fff200][b]"You think you've got what it takes to take me on?"[/b][/color] He issued his challenge. This was going to be a moment of greatness for certain. He had no doubt.

Minerva's thoughts were filled with annoyance; the insensitivity of his comments set it to disdain as she looked at her luggage. She was tired before speaking. [b][color=cyan]It would better for everyone if she shut this bastard up for a while[/color][/b]

[b][color=cyan]”Alright you can call me, Minerva. I'll just have this baggage sorted out then you can expect me in the gym in an hour.[/color][/b] she spoke as she walked away.

[color=fff200][b]"Sounds good to me!"[/b][/color] He replied in an energized way as he brought his own baggage to his assigned room, packing his belongings up and putting up his posters of various characters from war movies or boxing champions, then he quickly changed into his gym attire and gave himself a cheeky grin to the mirror in his room. 

[color=fff200][b]"Knock em dead ace!"[/b][/color] He bro-fisted his reflection and slammed the door shut after he left his room, forgetting to lock it as he did. Then made his way down to the training area, weightlifting, boxing... and just about any other physical exercise, he was prepped. He went over to one of the weightlifting machines and looked it over to make sure it was secure. Then waited for Minerva, he readied himself up to greet her when she finally would.

[color=fff200][b]"Yo! Over here Minnie!"[/b][/color] He called out across the entire gym

Minerva would soon make her to the gym, determined to wipe the arrogance of the currently ignorant man, she no longer wearing the spacesuit. Instead she is now wearing her gym clothing a combination of short and gym tops showing off her muscles and figure.

[b][color=cyan]“Alright, Griff what’s the challenge?”.[/color][/b] Minerva asked as she started her stretches. It doesn’t matter what the challenge is, she just needs to win decisively.


[color=fff200][b]"Huhu! Looks like you've got some muscles! Not bad, not bad, Minnie!"[/b][/color] He said in a slightly fake-condescending tone, he was actually impressed.

[color=fff200][i]'Holy shit this girl is decked out with abs and isn't a hulking monster.'[/i][/color] Griff mentally noted as his eyes wandered over her body, his face becoming slightly flustered. He reached up his hand to his mouth and pretended to cough into it.

[color=fff200][b]"Ahem. Glad that you asked! Before you stand the peak of a pilot's power! We call it weightlifting! If you paid attention in the hangar, you would have noticed that my metal buddy there has that power too. I have honed this for years! We shall test how good you are at this! First we do it at an easy stage and if you manage to pass that we will increase to a higher level. The winner of the final push wins, providing you can get that far!"[/b][/color] Griff said in a confident tone and laughed out loud, his hands now located at his waist.

[color=fff200][b]"I'll go first! So watch and learn!"[/b][/color] The blond said in a smug manner and crawled under the weights with the metal bar in the middle so he could bench press. [color=fff200][b]"Normally you would stand behind me to make sure it wouldn't fall on top of me. That is if I were not the most awesome at this ever."[/b][/color] He said confidently and began to lift. He managed with the easy difficulty.

[color=fff200][b]"Piece of cake!"[/b][/color] He said and hung the weights back up. [color=fff200][i]'There's no way she can even be able to lift this amount, I don't even have to go to a higher level heh.'[/i][/color] He mused in his head as he moved to place himself behind the bench to catch the metal and the weights if. No... when she wouldn't be able to lift it. He was already in celebration mode.

Minerva would look at Griff as he performed a familiar routine, little did he know she also lifted weights as part of the test and to keep her body in the best state. Silently she added weights when her turn arrived, setting to a little higher than her usual routine. For a normal unaugmented human, it is already pushing the limit.

And yet all Griff will see if Minerva is doing the lift as if it is just the usual weight.

[b][color=cyan]“So what are you saying?”[/color][/b] Minerva cheekily asked as she finished her routine.


[color=fff200][i]'Hahahah… what?! What the heck is she able to lift? Tch. Fine let's add on so much that she cannot lift it! That'll teach her! Stupid pretty girl!'[/i][/color] Griff plotted before offering a grunt.

[color=fff200][b]"Hnnff! Looks like you can lift after all, but now we are doing a much heavier lift, the last one! First you do it! Then I will do it after you!"[/b][/color] He said in an almost worried tone, moving to fetch more weights and attaching them to each side of the iron bar holding them in place. 

[color=fff200][b]"Adding one here and another one here. You go try lift these now and I will try the same after you! But let's make it a little more interesting! The winner will get to decide on a single thing that the loser has to do for the winner, it can be anything as long as it's legal. Deal?"[/b][/color] He asked and grinned as he placed himself behind the weights and the iron bar.

A smile etched on Minerva’s face as she looked at the weights that made things a lot easier. [b][color=cyan]“I see, I accept your challenge?”[/color][/b] Minerva spoke as she measured the weight that was being added, she could do it and add some more after all.

So she added more weights until it was clear that the weight was above the record of what humans could lift. Minerva took a deep breath before holding the bar and lifting it off the ground. She struggled a little before completely raising her arms and dropping the weight to the floor.

[b][color=cyan]Just like that, as if she made to break human limits.[/color][/b]

[b][color=cyan]“There, that should do it. It’s your turn now”[/color][/b] she spoke in a cheeky tone, confident that she already won.

[color=fff200][i]'Ahh yes, the sweet sounds of victor- No no no! Hold up! This cannot be happening! She must have cheated! Somehow! But… There's no cheating in weightlifting! Crap!'[/i][/color] He mentally lamented in panic, he felt the sweat on his neck and forehead. He had to beat her. He would lose both his honor and bragging rights otherwise.

[color=fff200][b]"Errrm.. Well that's good! Ahah… well done!"[/b][/color] He said in a nervous manner, before grumbling to himself and getting on the bench.

[color=fff200][i]'Stupid beginner luck probably. I'll show her'[/i][/color] Griff prepared himself mentally and began to lift down the weight. That's odd. It was heavy as hell. Heavier than he normally lifted. Wait. She had put on additional weights unto it when he wasn't looking, yet she had been able to lift it? He gritted his teeth.

[color=fff200][b]"This is nothing! Hnnnn! Re-really!"[/b][/color] He tried to lift the weight up but he only managed halfways. [color=fff200][i]'No way! Come on! Go up you stupid iron bar! Shiiiiiit!'[/i][/color] Griff felt sweat falling into his eyes and stinging him and he motioned for Minerva to help him put the iron bar with the weights back on its hooks.

[color=fff200][b]"Shi- Okay- You can- put it up!"[/b][/color] He made short words as the weight began to lower down against his body, motioning for Minerva to help him.

Minerva would widen her eyes as she watched Griff actually try to lift it, did he not see her adding weights? She made no secret of doing so.

She watches closely, making sure she is ready to stop any mishap at its roots which is why she is ready to grab the iron before he even asks. Thanks to that however they are close to each other allowing Minerva to simply whisper her words.

[b][color=cyan]”I won.”[/color][/b] she declared to Griff reminding them of the deal. [b][color=cyan]”That means, you need to something for me right?”[/color][/b] there was a tone of joy in her voice as if she managed to lure her into a trap.

Griff twitched slightly on hearing the whisper close to him, almost making him loosen his grip on the bar. His face was flustered from the effort and just how close she now was to him. The angle gave him an ample view which made him swallow. [color=fff200][b]"Con.. grats? I... lost?"[/b][/color] He said, blinking and still somewhat in a state of shock. Sitting back up and he reflected on what just happened. Good thing he was a warrior and well trained in things such as these.

[color=fff200][i]'AAAAAAHHHH! Shiiiiiiit! Crap! Damn fricking shit! Crap! How could this happen?! Shit! Damn it all! I lost? Impossible! SHIIIIIIIIIIIT!'[/i][/color] He screamed out internally as Minerva's words reached his ears. Oh no. Oh no indeed. Not only had he lost his honor, the challenge and potential gloating rights. That damnable pretty girl now had some stupid task for him! Curses! How had he'd been tricked into this situation? Wait. It had to have been that old geezer, he knew he would have challenged that girl which in turn led to his defeat? Were she a machine perhaps? Regardless… he had to deal with the situation.

[color=fff200][b]"Ah... erm… ahah… well done! Victory…"[/b][/color] He took a moment to mourn. [color=fff200][b]"...is yours. I must have sprained my thighbone in my arm- Probably. Well! I am a man of my word! I can handle an unexpected temporary setback! What request do you have for me?"[/b][/color] He blinked in a mix of worry and surprise. He also felt warm. Had he worked up such a sweat? His eyes landed on Minerva's face. [color=fff200][i]'Why does she have to be pretty? It would have been easier to hate her if she weren't. HOW THE HELL COULD I LOSE?! Shiiiiiit! Weightlifting is such a sham sport!'[/i][/color]. 

[color=fff200][b]"Ahh… err.. remember nothing illegal!"[/b][/color] He said in an alarmed manner, for all he knew the young woman before him could be a sadist. 

[b][color=cyan]”Of course.”[/color][/b] Minerva spoke as she set the set bar to its place smiling at her victory. 

[b][color=cyan]”Well my request is really simple, could stop being a deadweight with your racism.”[/color][/b]

The room suddenly went cold as her stare turns into a glare as she crosses her arms.

[b][color=cyan]“I have seen people like you a lot. Nobles who hide behind traditions and prejudice to cover up their incompetence, I will not have it if I could.”[/color][/b] her voice is filled with judgement and scorn.

[b][color=cyan]”Am I understood?”[/color][/b]

[color=fff200][b]"Racism?"[/b][/color] He blinked once, twice and then opened his mouth. [color=fff200][b]"Oh."[/b][/color] He said as if a revelation had come before him. [color=fff200][b]"Who did I be racist to?"[/b][/color] He thought back to those he had met earlier before he tightened one of his hands into a fist and slammed it into the open palm of his other hand. 

[color=fff200][b]"Ah! You mean the little bu- the Terrain-ian? Right? Hnnn… fine... I guess."[/b][/color] He grumbled and pretended to kick away a pebble that wasn't even there. [color=fff200][b]"I thought for a moment you would have demanded me to strip down naked in your room or kowtow'd before that jerk with the blue hair."[/b][/color] He gave a slight chuckle and then put his hand at his waist, looking her in the eye.

[color=fff200][b]"Seen people like me huh? Sounds pretty generalizing to me! I am not a noble though, screw being a noble, prancing around like a peacock and talking about who has the better ed-… ejuca- adjucation? Frickin book dwellers. So got a grudge against nobles eh? Some incompetent noble wronged you? Oh, is that what Project Octolus was?"[/b][/color] He walked up abit and leaned in with his face as if trying to look into her eyes and see her brain. [color=fff200][b]"Oh yeah. And understood… I keep my end of the bargain."[/b][/color] He said in a defeated tone of voice. 

[b][color=cyan]”Words are cheap, you can prove it in action.”[/color][/b] Minerva spoke as began walking away before stopping a bit for some last words.

[b][color=cyan]”And it is called Olympus and that is an inaccurate description of my opinion of nobility. They are more like mosquitoes when I got sent to clean up a mess, it usually them I see hovering like idiots at some point I developed a grudge.”[/color][/b] Minerva spoke as she walked away thinking that the conversation was over.

[color=fff200][b]"Oh yeah that's what I meant. Also one last thing… Nice shorts!"[/b][/color] He grinned and did a thumbs up.

[color=fff200][i]'So nobles are mosquitoes… They suck and are bugs. It does sound just like...'[/i][/color] His mind began to wander as a small winged figure appeared in his mind again. He quickly shook his head and then punched a nearby training dummy. Now he just had to hope none heard or saw his challenge with Minerva or he had to intimidate them into silence. His reputation as a warrior was on the line.

[b][color=cyan]”Remember your promise.[/color][/b] Minerva spoke as she walked away leaving Griff to his own devices. For a moment, she stopped as a memory flashed in her mind.

[b][color=cyan]A muscular idiot, a sore loser who is determined to match her at her best. Sometimes he did win and it is her turn to catch up.[/color][/b]

She quickly buried that memory because she can't afford to lose herself in the past. At least while she's still alive.

[@Ammokkx][@shylarah]