On the Bus
Nordem woke up and leaned over on the edge of his bed like he normally did. He was up as early as he normally got up, and and had gone to bed the same time he normally went, too. But it was not any normal day. Instead of putting on his usual sportswear, he deposited them ? and several pairs of them ? into his duffel bag. Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, antiperspirant, handwrap tape, jumprope, boxing shoes, all into the bag, and his silver watch he fitted and clamped onto his wrist.
All the other things he'd require such as shampoos and the like would be acquired locally when he got to Queensland. He preferred it that way. You could take small bits and pieces of your own country and culture with you wherever you went, but you could only make homier your conditions. Better to get adjusted to your surroundings.
Nordem decided he'd make one more stop around Adenna before going back to Rhydin to then slingshot over to Earth. The walk past the gym was somewhat bittersweet. He hadn't planned on visiting it due to the sensitive emotions that were sure to still be within its walls. What Robin said, or did not say about his departure from the Nest, couldn't help his reputation with the kids there that had thought something of him. In some ways he must have looked like a deserter, but they would have to go on thinking that uncontested. Nordem could have tried talking to them, but that was just the thing: he didn't have time anymore.
While he was still young enough, he had to climb to the top. To achieve that, he had to enter Earth's pool of competitors and operate out of a gym there. Luckily for him, he had done this before. He had his gym, workout, and living arrangements all covered. It was going to be the most beneficial training camp of his boxing career, and he wouldn't be able to take any apprenticing juniors with him. That would be the most regrettable part of this trip to him, but nevertheless, he still had to make it. As he came to pass the Nest, he did take the slightest comfort in knowing that Robin would continue to be the best coach those kids would have. Terry, Shannon and Kruger were given his blessings for a worthwhile and injury-free caper through their professional careers.
He came to Luci's Cafe with the intention of just staying as long as it took to order a slice of banana bread and an espresso and pick up the other half of his party that would be accompanying him to Earth. Inside was Techichi seated in the corner and gazing out the glass to the outside tables where a few pairs were seated and conversing and sipping their coffees. She spotted Nordem and looked confused as to how to react to him, same as he looked to her, but he was not so lost as to forget how to put their schedule back on track.
?Morning,? He started. ?Did you pack everything you'll need??
Still Tetch was reserved, confounded, and even hesitant to speak with him. The last time she had done so had been out of rage, and she was slowly coming to understand that it had been reactionary rage, and not the appropriate response she would have given normally. She was coming to grips that she had done so out of an insecurity and a sort of ignorance that she had discussed with Rijn in the library several days prior to now. It was a series of realizations that led to her being here, and her accompanying Nordem on his training camp. But it wouldn't be to work on her jab.
?Few shirts... a few pants... few shoes,? She answered him hushedly, something so new and unlike her that the persons ordering ahead of Nordem even had to peek out of the corner of their eye and make sure it was the same Techichi. ?If I need anything else, I can buy it.?
?That's what I plan on doing, too,? Nordem said. He was next in line, but he prayed his cashier wait just the moment for him to conclude a final piece of business with the Siovanui. ?Are you ready to walk out the door now? After I get my coffee I'm meeting Bruce and we're out of here.?
?Ready when you are,? Tetch said, and took a breath of the stereotypical depth. She didn't like not-knowing what awaited her in this foreign land. Particularly she didn't like being in an unknown place with all new faces and it being during this time when she felt weakest and not at all confident in her identity. But such was the reason she herself had come up with in her lonesome and emotional deliberation. She stood and held onto the back of her opposite arm while looking aside from Nordem's discerning stare.
Nordem nodded and placed his order.
Nordem woke up and leaned over on the edge of his bed like he normally did. He was up as early as he normally got up, and and had gone to bed the same time he normally went, too. But it was not any normal day. Instead of putting on his usual sportswear, he deposited them ? and several pairs of them ? into his duffel bag. Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, antiperspirant, handwrap tape, jumprope, boxing shoes, all into the bag, and his silver watch he fitted and clamped onto his wrist.
All the other things he'd require such as shampoos and the like would be acquired locally when he got to Queensland. He preferred it that way. You could take small bits and pieces of your own country and culture with you wherever you went, but you could only make homier your conditions. Better to get adjusted to your surroundings.
Nordem decided he'd make one more stop around Adenna before going back to Rhydin to then slingshot over to Earth. The walk past the gym was somewhat bittersweet. He hadn't planned on visiting it due to the sensitive emotions that were sure to still be within its walls. What Robin said, or did not say about his departure from the Nest, couldn't help his reputation with the kids there that had thought something of him. In some ways he must have looked like a deserter, but they would have to go on thinking that uncontested. Nordem could have tried talking to them, but that was just the thing: he didn't have time anymore.
While he was still young enough, he had to climb to the top. To achieve that, he had to enter Earth's pool of competitors and operate out of a gym there. Luckily for him, he had done this before. He had his gym, workout, and living arrangements all covered. It was going to be the most beneficial training camp of his boxing career, and he wouldn't be able to take any apprenticing juniors with him. That would be the most regrettable part of this trip to him, but nevertheless, he still had to make it. As he came to pass the Nest, he did take the slightest comfort in knowing that Robin would continue to be the best coach those kids would have. Terry, Shannon and Kruger were given his blessings for a worthwhile and injury-free caper through their professional careers.
He came to Luci's Cafe with the intention of just staying as long as it took to order a slice of banana bread and an espresso and pick up the other half of his party that would be accompanying him to Earth. Inside was Techichi seated in the corner and gazing out the glass to the outside tables where a few pairs were seated and conversing and sipping their coffees. She spotted Nordem and looked confused as to how to react to him, same as he looked to her, but he was not so lost as to forget how to put their schedule back on track.
?Morning,? He started. ?Did you pack everything you'll need??
Still Tetch was reserved, confounded, and even hesitant to speak with him. The last time she had done so had been out of rage, and she was slowly coming to understand that it had been reactionary rage, and not the appropriate response she would have given normally. She was coming to grips that she had done so out of an insecurity and a sort of ignorance that she had discussed with Rijn in the library several days prior to now. It was a series of realizations that led to her being here, and her accompanying Nordem on his training camp. But it wouldn't be to work on her jab.
?Few shirts... a few pants... few shoes,? She answered him hushedly, something so new and unlike her that the persons ordering ahead of Nordem even had to peek out of the corner of their eye and make sure it was the same Techichi. ?If I need anything else, I can buy it.?
?That's what I plan on doing, too,? Nordem said. He was next in line, but he prayed his cashier wait just the moment for him to conclude a final piece of business with the Siovanui. ?Are you ready to walk out the door now? After I get my coffee I'm meeting Bruce and we're out of here.?
?Ready when you are,? Tetch said, and took a breath of the stereotypical depth. She didn't like not-knowing what awaited her in this foreign land. Particularly she didn't like being in an unknown place with all new faces and it being during this time when she felt weakest and not at all confident in her identity. But such was the reason she herself had come up with in her lonesome and emotional deliberation. She stood and held onto the back of her opposite arm while looking aside from Nordem's discerning stare.
Nordem nodded and placed his order.