Evening at Chip'n'Dan's (some days pre-Halloween)

[Cres]

[[Hmm, I don't know. It's a school morning, isn't it? Would Ace have brought his things? We could also play through the morning. The certain thing is that while these two lovebirds were asleep, Collie made breakfast. ]]

[Kat]

*OHHH! Let's play through breakfast. Not sure what Collie would have made, but could it possibly be something not super healthy? It's just that Chip hasn't really seen Ace's whole "health-nut work-out freak" side yet, though Ace has mentioned it, and I'd like him to. Because you know Ace usually wakes up really early to go for a run, but today he's going to sleep in, then freak out when he realizes he won't have time for his usual morning run. Because even though he's starting to get over the whole sex side of things, he's still obsessed with his weight and body, which no one bugs him about. So Chip is going to have to get some exposure to that I think. ;) That sound okay? I also think Chip should wake him up, it'd make him freak out even more.*

[Cres]

[[Yay! I was hoping you wanted to play through morning, we haven't played any mornings yet, and of course Ace has so far always woken up first. I'm cool with everything you said, I think Chip needs to get exposed to his obsessive side more as well, so here goes a post!]]

The next morning began as bright and with the tiniest touch of dampness in the air. The summer weather was beginning to let off fully, and the pleasant crispness of an autumn morning was in the air outside. Inside, the spatious bedroom was filled with the even breathing of two males. The computer in the corner was, for once, quiet and still. The shades in the windows were only halfway pulled in, and so the first rays of the morning sun glimmered through the glass and spread their beams into the room. It was a strangely empty room, in many ways, since there was nothing hung on the walls except some small shelves and an oval mirror. No pictures of family members or friends could be seen anywhere. To someone who didn't know Chip this might have seemed odd, but Chip didn't like looking at a lot of faces around him. The only place where he hung pictures was his studio, and they were all art photos he'd taken himself.

At any rate, the morning sun woke Chip up from a pleasant dream. He had not had as pleasant dreams in a long while, and so he was feeling extremely relaxed and nice when he blinked his eyes open. It took him a moment to focus his mind to everything. He glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. It was not too late yet but he realised he'd forgotten to put his alarm on. Well, he was sure Collie would have woken them up soon anyway.

Them. Chip looked down. He was lying on his side, and the smaller frame of the blonde was curled up under his arm, close to his chest. Yes, Ace had stayed overnight. Chip could still hardly believe it, but it felt nice. Smiling, he simply looked at the boy for a while. He looked happy in his sleep. Chip wondered what kind of dreams Ace had had.

Carefully lifting himself up enough to lean on one elbow, he reached over Ace to kiss the boy on the cheek.

"Wake up, Sunshine," he said. "It's morning."

[Kat]

*So, are you okay with it being Halloween morning? I need Ace to have a really busy day today.*

Usually the early morning rays of sun that filtered into a room never had to wake Ace up, as the blond athlete always woke up before the sun. He'd been getting up so early now that he didn't even need to set an alarm anymore, his body simply woke him up naturally. But this morning had been an exception. Perhaps it was the excitement of the past evening that had settled him into a peaceful sleep, relaxing his mind enough to not feel like it needed to wake up so early. Or perhaps his body was so tired from the rough schedule Ace had put in on and had decided to trick his mind into giving it a bit of extra rest. Either way, it was now nearing two hours later than his usual wake up time. And at this rate, there was no way the boy was going to be able to keep his obsessive morning routine.

When Chip kissed him and told him to wake up, Ace slowly blinked his eyes open a few times, in a bit of a daze from sleeping so soundly. He was usually a restless sleeper, waking up periodically throughout the night. But last night he'd slept soundly. He gazed up at Chip, a sleepy smile on his lips. "Morning..." Any further words were cut off by a yawn. The yawn was what really woke Ace up. He never yawned in the morning; he was never tired in the morning.

Sitting up suddenly he looked at the clock. "Shit! It's so late!" He sat on the bed, legs stretched out before him. How could he have not woken up? Why didn't his body wake up at it's usual hour? There was no way he'd be able to go for his morning run now, he didn't have enough time for it. And since today was Halloween day, which would be packed with activity with no time to spare, he wouldn't have time to make up for it later. He knew he needed to calm down and relax, otherwise Chip would be witness to his obsession with working out, which he had done a good job of hiding from others so far. But maybe screwing up his sleeping hadn't been the only thing his body had set out to do this morning, maybe it was now over-ruling his mind, that was trying madly to calm him down and shut him up.

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his feet hitting the floor lightly. "Damn it, why does it have to be Halloween today? I don't have time for this..." He knew he was rambling, and he hoped Chip would just take it as early morning confusion over not waking up at his regular hour. Most people kept a daily schedule after all, didn't they? This wasn't that weird or odd, was it? And besides, he was an athlete after all, so why shouldn't he be upset over having to screw up his schedule? He hadn't missed going for a morning run in three years, he hadn't intended to start now.

[Cres]

[[yes yes Halloween morning is great! Oh I randomly selected the day of Ace's and Bp's talk to be Sunday. Is that a problem?]]

Chip was surprised when Ace suddenly bounced up like that. He leaned back on his elbows and stared with one raised brow when Ace started to get up, complaining about it being Halloween. He wasn't following with the problem; Chip himself had never been particular on schedules, he rather liked breaking the routines than adhering to them. And he didn't yet quite understand what a big deal this was for Ace.

"Uh, yeah," he said tentatively. "There a problem with that? I mean, we have plenty of time for eating breakfast - Collie's probably already started on that."

[Kat]

*Sunday was a good day for their talk. *

Ace stood up and stretched his arms, finally turning to look at Chip. Even though he knew in his head he should tell Chip to ignore what he'd said, his mouth would not keep quiet. "My problem is that I slept in. I always wake up early every morning and go for a ten kilometre run. Every morning, I haven't missed one in three years and that was only because I'd injured my knee and my doctor forbade me from doing anything. Since then, I've always started my morning out running. I can't break that schedule after three years, it's just not right for my body. And since today is Halloween, it's going to be extremely busy, so I won't have time to make up for it later." He hadn't even realized he was doing it, but while standing he had started doing the stretches he always did before running. "I do have English before lunch, maybe I can talk Lark into letting me off so I can do my run then."

Or maybe he'd just run to school? He could always call Sparky up, and get her to drive his car to school for him. He trusted her with it, after all he'd let her drive it before. She wouldn't mind, in fact it would suit her, dressed in her costume and pulling up in an expensive car. It was definitely a possibility worth looking into. He didn't really want to skip English anyway, it was his favourite class. But he wouldn't have time for his full run if he only went at lunch, and if he did wait for lunch, everyone would harass him anyway. And there would be the whole problem with his make-up. He'd been planning to meet Sparky a little early so she could do his eyes. They'd decided to pass on the hair dye after all, but a pharoah needed dramatic eyes and he couldn't very well go running with his eyes made up. He contemplated briefly skipping on the assembly, but he knew his friends, Princess especially, would be livid if he did that.

No, there was no real option it seemed. He'd have to miss his run, and he knew he'd be feeling it all day. Maybe he just wouldn't eat so much to counter-act his slowed metabolism. That seemed like the best plan.

[Cres]

[]

Also the other one of Chip's eyebrows had risen at this point. He had not expected this at all. Sure, Ace had said he was particular about his health, but that didn't sound like particular, it sounded like downright obsession. He didn't say anything for a while, just watched Ace doing his stretches.

"Um... I don't mean to sound diminishing of your routines or anything, Ace, but, heh, aren't you being a little over-obsessive?" he suggested carefully as he slid his feet out of the bed. "I mean, leaving the run for just one morning can hardly mess your entire body up." He walked around the bed and came to Ace, not daring to try to hug him as he didn't want to interrupt the stretches - he knew that could twitch a muscle badly. "Come on, Sunlight... relax for just one day, eh?" His eyes twinkled with an unspoken hope. He was really afraid that Ace would go ballistic on him over even suggesting it, but he really didn't think this obsessing was healthy.

Part of him was expecting the boy to turn at him and start yelling. He wasn't consciously sure why - but it was a left-over from the old relationship with Flash, of course.

[Kat]

*Oh wow, crazy!*

Ace had been expecting expecting Chip to say something like that, expected him to say that a one day break wouldn't cause a problem. But he didn't know Ace's body, he didn't know how it worked. The blond was certain it would screw him up. Looking up at Chip, Ace tried not to sound snippy, even though he felt it. "You're not an athlete, Chip, you wouldn't understand." He felt like an ass the moment he'd uttered the words. He kept trying to tell himself that Chip was only concerned. Concerned because he didn't know what it was like to be in the kind of shape he was in, the constant struggle he went through every day. He never let on to anyone or said a word, but he often woke up feeling sore in the mornings, and his body ached throughout the day. But he'd gotten so used to it by now that it didn't bother him. Except on the days when his right knee ached. But today wasn't one of those days.

He stopped stretching and stood before Chip, trying to will a smile to his face but not quite getting there. "I appreciate the fact that you're worried about me, really I do. But like I said, you just, you can't understand. I have to keep this schedule, being in this kind of shape is my entire life, Chip. If I start slacking off now, then I'll never be able to handle playing pro soccer. I have to be in the best shape possible, so that means following a very strict schedule every day. Even if I haven't slept much, I still have to get up and run. I just can't chance anything ever happening to me, I have to stay on top of my body." He hadn't really meant to say so much, but he felt that he owed Chip some kind of explanation. After all, how else could he possibly understand if Ace didn't explain it to him?

[Cres]

[[Okay, I don't know like, anything about athletes and such, so I need to ask this before I make a post - is this just Ace's over-obsessive behaviour or does he have an actual point? Because, like, Chip would be on top of the situation so I don't want to make any mistakes. ^-^]]

[Kat]

*Well, he does have a point, but it is very odd behaviour to be acting so upset over skipping just one day, and he is obsessing a little too heavily on how much he has to work out. Also, when he mentioned getting up even when he hasn't slept much, that would actually be worse for his body, since one of the key points of being in good shape is sleeping properly, which Ace doesn't do.*

[Cres]

[[Great, that's what I thought. Good to know I have an understanding about these things even when I don't know I do. ]]

Chip didn't raise an eyebrow this time. This time, his brows curved downward a little, into a worried frown. Ace had said he obsessed over his body and keeping it in shape, but he hadn't expected the situation to be this bad.

"Ace..." he began, then changed his mind and instead wrapped his arms around the blonde first, kissing his forehead. He wanted to show that he cared, because he could tell that this topic was one to easily send Ace off to a total freaking-out session if he didn't handle it carefully.

"Look, it's true I'm not an athlete, but I do know a thing or two about keeping yourself in shape, look at me." He winked, not bothering to emphasise the fact that he had a fairly impressive body built, even if it wasn't anything compared to Dan's. But then Dan was naturally big and broad. "And it seems to me you're seriously overdoing it. I mean, one day, Ace? One lousy day, your body isn't going to collapse just because you miss your jog for one day." He looked worried. "And you know missing sleep just so you have the time for running probably hasn't done you any favours, either."

He smiled and wrapped his arms tighter round the boy.

"Just forget about the damned exercising for one day, eh? For me?" He hoped the last remark might have some effect. He had to wonder how he could ever convince Ace to drop this obsessive behaviour. He hadn't got much success with breaking the pattern of a drug addict - he suspected that a exercise-addict wouldn't be any easier.

[Kat]

Ace was a little stiff when Chip hugged him, unable to help but feel defensive. Of course, as he suspected, Chip didn't get it. He couldn't blame him though and tried hard to not feel any sort of aggravation toward him. But he still felt compelled to argue. "Well I don't really have a choice this morning, it looks like I'll have to skip. And I'm not worried about my body collapsing, Chip. Running, or doing any sort of cardio in the morning will boost your metabolism throughout the day. With a slowed metabolism that comes from not going on my run, I won't burn off what I eat as quickly. I've put years into my body, I don't want to backtrack on them, that's all." Should he have actually said that part about worrying about burning off what he ate? What if it gave Chip the wrong impression? What if he thought he had some kind of eating disorder? He didn't, after all, he just worried about being in shape for soccer.

"Look, Chip, let's just not worry about this right now. Didn't you say Collie's making breakfast?" He knew if he let Chip keep pushing the subject he'd probably end up saying something that would really worry him, and he didn't want that. He also didn't want anyone telling him how to live his life or take care of his body. He'd been doing fine on his own for the past six years. He just really didn't want to argue with Chip.


*Yeah, you can of course feel free to have Chip keep pressing him about it, since underneath it all, that is what Ace actually wants; he's still in the stubborn denial stage right now;)*

[Cres]

Chip frowned at what Ace said about metabolism and such. It would probably have convinced Colorado, because Colorado, despite taking care of his basic condition, was far from being an athlete, and the moment anyone started talking about strange biological or chemical terms he would just wave it off with "well I suppose you know better". But Chip had always taken great care of his body, for vanity reasons as well as for the feeling of need to keep himself in the best physical shape possible. He knew just what Ace was talking about and didn't feel comfortable with it at all.

He was beginning to suspect a real problem behind all this, something he really needed to do something about.

"Shit, Ace, one day? Honestly, you need to loosen up," he said before he really thought it through - Chip might have got a bit more mature with Ace lately, but the same "speaking of one's mind" attitude was still there. He was worried, and it showed. "You'll kill yourself before you're thirty, come on..."

At that moment, however, they were interrupted by a knock sounding from the door.

"Oh, Lovebirds... time to get up, I've made breakfast!" Collie's voice sounded through, then sounded quite fascinated as he continued: "You both dressed?" It sounded rather like that, in the case of negative answer, he would have found an incentive to come in for a peek.

[Kat]

Ace didn't look at Chip as he made his comments, fighting back the urge to tell Chip off and just leave and go home. Things had been so perfect last night, and now hadn't he just ruined it? After all Chip hadn't brought the topic up, he'd done it himself. Could he blame Chip for being worried and speaking his mind? Isn't that what he wanted, someone to question his behaviour and worry about him? He was a little too obsessive, after all, he knew that. He just wasn't used to anyone making any comments on it. The only person who ever had was Chase, and he'd quickly learned not to bring the subject up after Ace had cut him down for asking. And no one ever questioned it when he went home to Sweden, because the majority ofr his family was like him. Pelle played on the national soccer team and Nora ran long distance track events on the Olympic team, and even genius brainiac Tor ran every day. He came from a physically active family, his friends didn't think too much of his schedule, and the only people who noticed anything wrong were quickly cut down.

Maybe Chip was right. Maybe he would end up with more problems then he anticipated. He was about to apologize to Chip for reacting the way he had, but was interrupted by Colorado. Great. He knew he had to take advantage of his apologetic moments when they came, but now he might not get the chance. He didn't want to bring the topic up in front of Colorado, so what could they do now? He didn't want Chip to be upset with him and he badly wanted to find out if he was. So instead of replying to Colorado, Ace simply looked at Chip, waiting for him to say something. He just wanted another two minutes with Chip on their own so he could apologize and tell his boyfriend how he really felt.

*Aww, I swear this kid has got to be bi-polar, his attitude shifts so quickly, hehe*

[Cres]

[[hehehehe but it's all good anyway. ]]

Chip saw from Ace's eyes that there was something in the blonde's mind - he didn't know quite what, and he expected an argument, but he was not one to want to delay confrontation, and so he, too, was annoyed that Colorado had to interrupt them at that moment. He stared at Ace for a few moments, then turned his head toward the door a little.

"Give us a minute, Col!" he called out with a kind of a voice that had a clear commanding ring to it, not playful at all.

Colorado was quiet for a few seconds.

"Okay," he said a bit cautiously and more quietly this time, and Chip could just make out little sounds of footfalls as the other snuck away.

The red-head wasn't worried about his friend right now - Collie would be soothed with a few kisses to the right spot - and turned back to look at Ace, trying to formulate a sentence.