2024-11-26 - Needs More Drag Queens

At some point in the year, a day pass to the resort gym found its way into Elmo’s possession. A gift from HR, perhaps, or something left in the staff break room for too long. He can’t remember its origin, but its expiration date clearly stood out. TOO SOON.

So, he’s saved his biggest workout of the week for this place, which boasts a climbing wall and all the cool thematic bits and bobs. Dressed in athletic shorts and a tank, he moves throughout the weight area with his phone in one hand and a water bottle in the other. Instead of taking selfies like many of the tourists, he’s tracking his reps and weights.

THUNK. A couple of dumbbells hit the ground near his bench before Elmo starts to rub one of his shoulders, moving his right arm around to loosen some tension.

Rowan likely also managed to get his hands on some sort of day pass to the Gym in the resort. He has some weights in his apartment, but it's not the same as using other gym equipment. It's likely at an odd time of the day or a day off so that he isn't interrupting his own performance schedule to spend time there. After doing some light jogging on one of the treadmills (since unlike the park-goers, he doesn't walk thousands of steps per day), he's moved onto the weights.

While having a balanced regimen is, of course, important, a chunk of his job relies on his arms; upper body strength and flexibility.

Elmo presses some buttons on his phone and looks at the timer, counting down to his next set. Then, feeling a presence near him, he glances over at Rowan and gives the man a quick upnod and a, “Hey.”

He looks away right after, catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror in front of him. He lifts the arm that was annoying him, then lowers it and turns back to wherever Huck is, brows furrowing. “You work for the park, too, right? You look familiar.” He snaps his fingers and wonders. Maybe he doesn’t, though. There are so many employees after all, he’s just surprised to see another one here amongst the tourists.

Rowan likely looks rather different out of costume; the demeanor is certainly less regal and deliberate. It's also not the easiest to be gothy in gym clothes, especially since he's wearing workout shorts and a 'Chicago Circus School' t-shirt.

Looking over at the greeting, he offers in return, "Hey," and then he answers, "I do. And I do? The Frock Coat apparently holds most people's attention."

Elmo stares for a moment and thinks. “Maybe,” he answers, reaching up to run his hand over the top of his head. “I think it’s the hair.” The frock coat doesn’t ring a bell, so who knows, but the verbal confirmation is something.

“I got this voucher, thought I’d try it out,” Elmo explains, gesturing to the whole place. “The things people pay for, huh?” He grunts and shifts a weight closer along the floor. “Got more than the apartment gym, though.”

Rowan pauses and looks up as if he can see his own hair, "I guess it's pretty distinctive," is offered with a wry sort of smirk. The weight he had been holding is set down and he gives a roll of his shoulders before shaking his arms out. "Well, they pay for the hotel. I'm surprised they even have gyms here since most people walk miles in the park." He looks around briefly, "I'm not really complaining. I can't keep a full set of weights in the apartment."

Elmo tilts his head in agreement and leans to one side to grip a dumbbell. "True. The wall could be fun. Maybe people want to get something in before the pool in the summer." As far as he's concerned, only rich people can afford to stay here and he wouldn't dare suppose why rich people do anything.

With a grunt, he hoists the dumbbells just above his shoulders. "Nope, those places are too small for that." Then, he does some shoulder presses. 1, 2, 3, 4...

"It's just the lack of variety. Going for a jog, ok. But aside from setting up pull-up bars and HIIT equipment, there's only so much you can do with the free-weights." Even though that's what he seems to be using at the moment. "And storage can also be limited for a broad variety."

"I'm kind of surprised there isn't already a basic gym there. Maybe they feel that we get enough exercise doing our shows?"

Five, six, seven, eight. Elmo finishes his set and drops the dumbbells before responding. He looks at Rowan's reflection in the mirrored wall at first and shrugs. "Small islands," he says. "There's a basketball court." His roommate plays, so he knows that's another option.

When he turns, he shifts a bit in his seat and looks over his right shoulder. "Not all of us have shows, though. Sometimes performers forget that."

Rowan pauses mid-curl and looks at the other. "I didn't forget it. Maybe I didn't say it quite right, but maybe it's presumed that because the visitors get their steps in, that those who work there do too and that's enough." He'll resume the curls, "Not everyone enjoys basketball."

Elmo watches the man for a moment before the edge of his mouth perks up into a quick grin. "No, not everyone likes basketball. Or rock climbing," he nods to the wall nearby, "or weights." He nudges one with the toe of his sneaker.

Then, he's quiet a moment, breathing deeply and dabbing at the sheen of sweat across his forehead. "You are a performer though, right?" He looks over again, this time at the circus school shirt. "I just work the arcade."

"True. Thus a gym with options would probaby be welcomed. We can ask. They have almost everything else there." Or they can maybe let the employees use hotel gyms more often. Rowan sets the weights down and moves to wipe them off before he gives a few more stretches and shoulder-rolls. "I am. A performer. The arcade is always hopping, so that must be fun."

Elmo doesn’t think about it too long before giving a thumbs up. Sure, he’d help push for more gym options. At the very least, he might get an idea of some more activities to give variety to his day.

“Depends on the day,” he says grimly. “And how many of the kids are pricks or not. Parents, too, actually. But when it’s good, it’s real good.” He stretches his arms out in front of him and gives them a shake to keep his muscles nice and loose. “Tell me about your performance?”

Rowan shrugs, "I mean, yes. I think that's just part of this business. I don't quite interact with them in the same way you do, and I can be snarky," that gets a little grin. "I work at the Boo'dwalk, doing magic and whip tricks." Thus the arm and shoulder workouts. "I sometimes take a little time before and after the show to walk around and interact. When I feel it."

"I can be barky," Elmo says, which is another approach to dealing with people who kick the machines, complain about something eating a token, or lament at being unable to show off at skeeball (usually by blaming the machines).

He starts to pull his dumbbells closer again for another go, but stops when he hears what Rowan's performance is. "Whip tricks?" A brow shoots up. "I must've missed that." If Rowan really is the person he thinks he remembers, that would have been why, not the hair. "How long you been at it?"

Rowan nods, "Barky works. I've had to yell at a couple kids who got too close. But a couple cracks of the whip got them to step back." He moves to one of the shoulder-press machines to set that up, "I usually start with the magic stuff so maybe you didn't stick around long enough?" There's a little grin at that. But then, "Been at what, using the whips? Since I was a kid. My parents were in the Circus."

Elmo works on his set, lifting the dumbbells in steady path up over his shoulders, holding it there, and then slowly bringing them down again. His breath is steady, in and out, and he goes for eight of those. When he's done, he stands with a grunt to place them back on the rack.

"You whipped kids? Man, remind me not to piss you off," he says, just the hint of a teasing tone in that. He grabs his water bottle and takes a sip, then tosses his small towel over one shoulder and heads toward the machines. "Sounds like a cool way to grow up."

"Naah, just snapped the whip a little too close for their comfort. They weren't in any danger." He'll do a few careful reps on the machine for a few before answering, "I guess? I didn't know any other way. Certainly makes for some good stories, though, and a lot of weird skills."

Elmo looks around at his choices and goes for the pulldown machine. "Bet they loved it," he says, knowing he would have been thrilled as a kid, especially if it happened to a friend he could tease about it later.

He adjusts the weight and adds the exercise to whatever app he's using, then readies a wide grip and sits down. "Good stories?" He looks over at Rowan on the other machine and wonders, "Like what?"

"I mean, just different from most people I've met, I guess," Rowan offers, "Traveling around as a kid, getting trapeze lessons, juggling lessons...learning how to use a whip. We settled down in Chicago once I started having to go to school. But I didn't really do sports or anything like a lot of kids did."

Elmo arches his back and sticks his chest out, then pulls down on the bars. This starts another steady rhythm interrupted only be his response to what Rowan reveals. "I like Chicago. If I ever left here, it might be a place I'd move." He finishes up the rest of his set, notes it, and leans forward to rest his forearms against the machine.

He nods when the sports bit is mentioned, then shrugs. "That's fine," he says, as if he was asked. "I figure this place must be more familiar then. You like it here?"

"It's a good city," Rowan agrees. "Pretty much has something for everyone. And it's not that far from here to visit, so that's another thing that made this place attractive."

He'll do a few more reps, "I do," is answered between them. "So far. I like the chance to be creative. I don't like being shoved into a box, even a metaphorical one."

Elmo breathes somewhat heavily. He’s been at the workout for a while and, despite this being a strength training session, has been keeping track of his timing in a way that still keeps his heart rate up. “Not a bad place to settle down on its own,” he says of this little cluster of islands they call home. “Good views, at least.”

He nods a bit, thoughtful at the mention of creativity and freedom. “That’s good, man. I can see being happy to have that chance.”

"It's a little weird," Rowan offers, "I mean, it's convenient, but weird. That we have an island that's our own little town. At least they pay us in real money and not, like...Town Scrip or something like they did with the old Hersheys Town." Someone has been watching History videos.

There's a little smirk, "I'm not the type to sit behind a desk or work retail. I just...no. I think that even if I wasn't performing, I'd figure something out here. Or Vegas."

"A little. Keeps us close, though, and there are a lot of us." Elmo tilts his head to one side and then gives Rowan a funny looks when he mentions Hersheys Town. "They did that? Made their own economy?" At this, he shakes his head. Crazy world out there, and he prefers his to pay in USD.

"Retail would suck," he agrees, huffing out a piece of air as he gives Rowan a knowing look. "My job ain't very creative here, but at least I get to hang with other weirdos." A quick wink here, and he reaches to grab the bar again. "Never been to Vegas."

"Yeah," Rowan pauses to look over, "They did. Sort of. So, if you worked there, they provided housing in their town, making sure that you could get to and from work, right? And you would get paid in credit...which could only be used in their shops in town. So, you had money to spend there, but no money to spend anywhere else. And they could set the prices, so you were stuck. I saw this whole video on it."

He does a few more reps before moving to one of the pull-up bars, "I haven't been to Vegas either, but it's a good place for Magic and Circus tricks. It's also supposed to be pretty crazy...although I guess we get some of that here. Maybe less lights, casinos, and drag queens though."

“Sounds fucking devious.” Elmos shakes his head and starts to pull down on the machine handle. Where that place had unusable credits, this place has magic. Surely nobody is doling out magic just to get people to stick around, though. “Right?” He grunts and lifts a brow.

When he’s done, he lets go in such a way that the weights fall half and inch at the end and clank loudly against one another. “You’re right. We should petition for more lights, casinos, and drag queens.” To this, he nods vigorously and smirks.

"Oh, it totally was. Because the credit they gave them cost them nothing...so, like, the workers never actually -made- money and were completely reliant on the Company. They couldn't really leave because they had no money to move," Rowan explains before pulling up on the bar.

There's a glance over at the clanking of the weights and he watches the other for a moment before pulling up on the bar again and slowly lowering himself. "I don't know about the casinos, but I think everywhere could use more lights and drag queens."

Elmo makes a disgusted, frustrated sound: A snort followed by a decisive click of his tongue. “Fucking bastards. Seriously, some people, man,” he starts, seeming poised for a rant before he looks over at Rowan and remembers where he is. “Yeah, sorry.”

He breathes and shifts I the seat, arms still over his head gripping the lat bar. “Or at least drag queens,” he continues, continuing to filter down to the most essential. And then he pulls the bar down to his chest again.

"Yeah well...they don't do that anymore, obviously. I think the workers had a strike and they got rid of that. I sort of lost attention towards the end of the documentary." He does another pullup and slowly lowers himself back down, "It's ok. It's rant-worthy, but like I said, at least that's not here."

There's another pause and a look over at the mention of needing more drag queens, "Well...maybe during Pride next year, we can be sure to invite more. Or talk to the Costume and Makeup department." He can't help a grin then.

“Obviously,” Elmo echoes. “That shit just wouldn’t stand today.” It looks like he’s poised to speak more, ask more about this, but a gym isn’t really the right kind of place for that. Especially at a resort where they’re not supposed to do anything to upset the guests. So, he finishes his exercise and dabs at himself with a small towel.

With a nod, he reaches for his water bottle. “Costumers would have fun with that one,” he admits, squirting some water in his mouth to hydrate. “Employees, too, I bet.” He sighs out his next breath and looks around, gaze eventually landing back on Rowan. “Let’s see what this is place like then.” He shrugs, because you can’t be sure something weird won’t be going on.

"I'm pretty certain that sort of stuff is illegal now," Rowan will point out. "Sort of why we have Employment Laws and all that." It's likely not a secret that there's a way for the employees to live 'on property', in a way.

He does a few more pullups before finally letting go. He does a few more shoulder rolls before moving to another one of the machines. "Costumers might. Or it might be more on their plate along with all the normal stuff. "No doubt the place will be like it is now...only maybe more people turning into animals. Or more guests deciding they want to float over the crowd."

Elmo’s instinct is to make a suspicious noise ala Marge Simpson. “I guess,” he grumbles, unsure about whether employment laws protect the people they’re meant to. “Okay, yeah, I can’t see it happening.” And yet, now he’s going to look for evidence of it, or something similar, perhaps in the way prices are decided at the local grocery store. Five dollars for a banana!?

He watches Rowan to his pullups and then stands up to swap places. “Well, wouldn’t want any of us to over work.” He stands under the pullup bar and chuckles. “Maybe. Maybe more people catching fire to something, too.” He reaches for the bar and pulls himself up, muscles already straining and burning from the machine work.

"At least, not without overtime," Rowan grins. "Let's hope that things don't get caught on fire. That's...no. No thanks. I mean, let's hope things that happen aren't detrimental to others..." the smile fades then.

"I think I'd rather have the floating Karens in that case."

Elmo gets some reps in, but it's not his most impressive display, and he drops onto his feet with a light thud. Rolling his neck and shoulder around, he gestures agreement to Rowan about nobody getting hurt or too terribly distressed in the future. He may not be the rays of sunshine some employees are, but he's not out to see blood.

Then, he shoots a curious looks. "Flying Karens?" He takes a minute, and then he oohs and makes a face. "That doesn't sound pleasant."

"Right?" Rowan gives another little grin, "I'm so glad that I don't generally have to deal with them. I mean, if they start to heckle me, I heckle them back. And if they still don't get the hint, bringing out the whip usually shuts them up. But imagine them floating around, like balloons!"

Elmo does that. He imagines them floating around like balloons, slowly and wistfully, far up into the clouds. “Wait,” he says, wincing and holding his hand up to his brow as if peering at something far in the distance. “Wait…ah, there. They’ve floated too far to hear.” He glances over at Rowan to wink. “Could be worse, but still not fun.”

He dabs his face some more and downs the rest of his water, tilting the bottle back and forth to hear the barely-audible splash of the dregs. “I think that’s it for me. Gonna hit the showers and head out. Good talking to you, though.”

Rowan pauses and looks to Elmo as he pretends to see the floating Karens. "If only they would. I think their hearing is supernatural..." as if they needed more than the flying. He then gives a chuckle, "No, I can't imagine. But maybe they'll consider it a perk of the park experience and not complain about it."

There's a nod when he mentions ending the workout, "Fair and good talking to you too. Have a great rest of your day." He's not quite done, moving to begin another round of reps.