Tyche Strutting at the Gym

James and Alessia had just spent a relaxing afternoon at the Rec Center; they'd played a little raquetball and shot some hoops in the multipurpose gym, then went and soaked in the outdoor pool for a good hour.

Alessia had been a bit shy about dressing down for James, at first, and he'd been smart enough not to push her, but swimming had seemed like a no-brainer, as hot as the last several days had been. It had been as if the weather had warmed, turning the West End into a re-creation of the exiled Faeries' Summer Country, and the combination of heat and humidity had both of them sweating freely before they'd been at play for as much as half an hour.

James had suggested taking a dip and bribed Alessia with a pineapple-banana smoothie; Tyche agreed with rather more feigned than genuine reluctance, and James' eyes had nearly fallen out of his skull when he saw the slingshot that she took from her gymbag.

"You've been slow-playing me," he accused, smiling to take the sting out of it.

"Maybe a little," she admitted, "but I was worth the wait, right?"

James smiled. "Why haven't I seen you gracing the covers of Sports Illustrated, or something?"

"Modelling's hard work," Alessia snorted, "and I already keep pretty busy, most of the time. Besides, I'm not exactly classically beautiful, now am I?"

"If you're not, then classical has its head firmly up its butt," James replied archly, "but, okay. So, have you done any poses for, I dunno, Muscle and Fitness or something?"

"Oddly enough," Alessia huffed, "no. Except for competitors, they tend to prefer stick-thin models."

"Have you ever thought of competing?"

"Oh, no- not me," Alessia shook her head.

"Why not?"

"Um..."

James rubbed his chin. "Okay... so it's not your thing. Would you pose for me?"

Alessia laughed. "After we swim, okay?"

"If I have to wait that long, I get to see you in heels, right?"

Alessia rolled her eyes. "What is it with men and heels?" she complained.

"If your legs were less spectacular, I promise I wouldn't ask," James vowed piously.

Alessia chuckled. "You win. After the pool, I solemnly swear to put on a private show for you. In heels."

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Yeah, they're slow-playing it a little bit, but James is a pretty smooth operator. Alessia definitely likes him, and he seems to be playing the game pretty well, keeping things at a near boil, without going over.

Alessia Troisi/Tyche and James Harkness belong to me,

This image was a gift from the lovely and talented . It came out of the blue and completely made my day. Thanks, LQ!

Tyche and James are exploring their budding, tentative romance at the recreation center during the early days of the Faerie Invasion in .