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The obnoxious thing about going to the rec center alone was that if everyone was busy, there was no one to belay you. Dani didn't always require a partner when she climbed the walls, but it had been a while and they'd changed things up on her enough that she didn't really want to slip and end up bouncing off the wall on her way down. That, and she was damned sore from her nightly escapades with youma, so she kind of wanted to take it easy.

Running a hand over the back of her neck, she glanced around, cheeks puffed out in thought. There were a few people milling around, but they were all on the way to looking occupied. Some jocks, notably, who were scouting around for hot women to impress with their bench pressing or something. Dani was so far from being into that scene that it wasn't even funny -- she really, honestly just wanted someone to belay her and she'd return the favor.

She hooked her thumbs in the back pockets of her jeans and turned, swinging one leg out wide, and nearly took someone out with it. Blinking, she planted both feet firmly on the ground and raised her eyebrows.

The guy looked to be around her own age, and judging by the gear in his hands, he was headed for the rock wall too. A quick glance to his hands and then behind him confirmed not only that but also the fact that he was alone; excellent.

Thrusting her hand out, a smile on her face, she greeted, "Hey, I'm Dani. Need someone to belay you?"

Dani blinked a couple of times, but her smile remained in place. Oh, he was probably one of those guys -- not really a climber, just here to try it out, or maybe to spy on women in tight pants while they ran around the rec center. Well, whatever, to each their own. She needed someone to belay her in turn, and if she helped him out, he would probably help her. If he didn't, she would intimidate him into it.

She could still do that, probably. Intimidate. Dani had some nice, muscley legs and arms after all her working out and her senshi duties; she could look pretty fearsome when she had to.

But then he said he wanted the help! And her smile got warmer. Oh, good. And he was a newbie! Dani loved instructing newbies.

Releasing his hand, she surveyed his gear and then invited herself to take ahold of it, inspecting it thoughtfully. "For a first timer, you have some pretty good gear! Do you know all the safety signals, or should I give you the basic rundown entirely?"

The prospect didn't seem to bother her. Actually, she was looking more cheerful by the moment.

Oh! So he climbed actual cliffs? That was more dangerous but probably more thrilling. Dani had never gone out and actually climbed a cliff face herself, mostly because she'd been too young for her parents to allow it, and nowadays she masqueraded as a warrior of justice at night and scaled buildings in leaps and bounds. Jumping all over the place for work kind of took the fun out of doing it in her leisure time. Still, it had been long enough since she'd gone to the rec center that she'd felt she couldn't put it off any longer. She didn't want to be lazy, after all!

She was staring at the back of his head with even more interest, obligingly passing her gear over, when he glanced back at her and she got a good look at his face. Um... Weird, was her first thought, powder blue eyebrows arching up a fraction. He looked like he was maybe mentally constipated or something. Or maybe he was just nervous?

Yeah, Dani was really cute. She didn't like to brag, but she was in great shape and she had more than above average charm in her face. He was probably just one of those really awkward guys that couldn't talk to cute girls without looking like they were having weird bowel movements.

Placing her hand lightly on her hip, she said confidently, "I probably am a lot better than you at climbing in here." No lack of ego on this one! "I've never been out on the cliffs, but I'm sure I'd be a natural there too. I've been climbing for years, and I've taught several people, so."

Her smile was confident and easy as she took another step closer, trying to avoid paying too much attention to his awkward expression.

She glanced up at the wall, back at him. "Want to go first?"

Dani didn't really care who went first -- she would probably either amaze him with her prowess and then have to graciously encourage him while he went, or completely show him up after the fact -- because either way she was confident she was going to shine. The prospect of it was actually putting her in a good mood! One that was good enough to ignore his gaping stare.

If it drifted below her chin, though... She'd have something to say about it.

Dani? Expect someone else to do everything for her? .. Hah! She'd be pissed if they tried. Of course Braden hadn't realized yet that he was dealing with a strong-minded, independent, fully capable woman, but he probably should have. She was here alone, wasn't she? Had her own gear and obviously took care of it, right? Hmph. She'd show him that she was more than capable.

Thrusting her chin out, she met his gaze with a fiery, comparative one of her own. "Trust me, Braden. Having you there will just be a formality. I can like, climb this with my eyes closed--" No, probably not, Dani. "--but I figure there's no harm in meeting other enthusiasts, right?"

Her smile had gone a little sharp around the edges. Here was the fierce, unreasonable competitor, rearing her ugly head at the insinuation that she wasn't capable.

She began to put her gear on, tone borderline (borderline? More like completely.) arrogant as she added, "It's all right to be a little intimidated. I won't hold it against you, since you seem pretty decent overall."

There! That had been nice and gracious of her. She flashed him a smile and buckled her harness.

It wasn't often than Dani met people who weren't immediately put off by how competitive and intense she could be. She was beginning to think it had been a better and better idea to strike up a conversation with Braden and ask him to be her climbing buddy; it seemed like he really understood the thrill of dangerous, difficult tasks that would bring you out on top. Of course climbing rocks blindfolded would be dangerous and probably a little stupid, but where was the adrenaline rush if there was no risk? And anyway, people climbed in terrible conditions all the time. It would really be no different from that, except in a safe environment.

Oh, man. This had to be a thing somewhere. She would be so absolutely awesome at it.

Gripping her rope with the ease and confidence of someone who had been doing it for years, Dani began to speak, lifting her feet to brace herself and get in position for her climb. "Well, think about it! People climb in bad weather and bad conditions like.. All the time."

It felt familiar and welcoming to be scaling the wall, and she was showing off -- hadn't bothered with any of the commands, and if anyone had been watching she would have been scolded for it -- but she could obviously handle herself. Duh.

"We could just communicate by tugging the rope, like people do then." Her muscles, stiff from the fight she'd been in just nights before, were protesting against the vigorous activity even though she'd stretched out thoroughly beforehand. Oh well! Her pride wouldn't let her idle or act like the climb was anything but child's play. "It'd be boring to watch, since it'd be so quiet, but really thrilling to do. I need more slack."

Cliff diving.. So like climbing, but with diving? She paused a moment in her ascent, brow creasing, and decided to try it. If Braden could do it, she certainly could. She'd probably go and impress him so much with her prowess that he would never want to go cliff diving without her.

Well, she could stand to have someone to hang out with aside from Tallulah. She loved her friend, but there was something to be said for having a wide circle of friends. It would be nice to have someone to do active things with.

"Never," she said, reaching the top of the wall and grinning. "But it sounds fun. At the beach, right?"

As she began to descend, Dani considered the pros and cons of going cliff diving. Well, first she'd see how well Braden did on a rock wall, and then she'd decide if she wanted to put her life in his hands on the beach or not."

"I agree, though. Almost nothing satisfies me like this." She was making quick time down the wall, trusting him to take up the slack as she went. He wasn't disappointing her. "Well, running. But I hate indoor tracks. I'm going to sign up for a marathon next year. My parents don't run or climb or anything though, and my ex was really lazy, so I don't really do this kind of thing very often with other people."

To be fair, Parker wasn't exactly lazy. He was a senshi too, which meant he got more than his fair share of exercise. Still, as her feet hit the ground again, she scowled. She wasn't quite ready to be fair about Parker yet, though.

Dusting her hands off, she asked cockily, "Impressed?"

Dani's ego, never really lacking for long, was immensely enjoying Braden. His smile, almost too wide for his face, was infectious to her; her own smug expression burst into a satisfied smile, and she dropped her hands from her hips, half-laughing. It was... well, flattering, to have someone speak so enthusiastically of her, and she responded well to it. Very well.

She liked to be the center of attention and she liked to be appreciated, so sue her. Running into someone who appreciated her for her prowess and talents on the rock wall rather than what cup size she wore, well. It put her in a damn good mood.

"Sure, I can teach you." Her tone was light and friendly while she unhooked her own gear, watched him get himself ready just in case she needed to point anything out. He seemed pretty capable, which gained him more points in her book -- yeah, this guy could be someone she actually hung out with. "I don't mind at all. Let's see what you've got!"

She gripped the rope between her hands, feet planted securely, and smiled encouragingly at him. She didn't expect him to be nearly as good as she was, but she was hoping that he would be at a decent enough skill level that they could have some fun. Given the state of his gear and the fact that he went cliff diving, she expected at least a little something out of him.

When he reached the top of the wall, Dani was all but bursting with pride. She already felt like he was her project -- nevermind the fact that she'd taught him absolutely nothing when it came to the skills he was displaying now, they had established that Dani was better than he was, and that she was going to teach him, and so she saw him as her pupil. She took great personal satisfaction in the fact that he was doing so well, and credited herself for it, somewhat.

"You're doing great!" She called enthusiastically, beaming him a bright smile in answer to his own. She didn't wave, because she took her responsibilities seriously and who knew if he was actually going to need her to catch him at some point, but her pleasure was evident. He was a little sloppier than she was, but for someone who had never been on an indoor wall, he was doing really well. She was actually excited to see him in his natural element.

A small thrill started in the base of her stomach at the idea of being outside climbing on a cliff. Dangerous, but... she could totally handle it. Though she hadn't been to the wall in a while, it was obvious that her skills were ones that didn't just leave, and frankly.. it would get a little boring to just be running around the rec center all the time. (She would have never considered this before, but now that the idea of challenging herself against a new set of circumstances had appeared, Dani was already looking at the familiar rock wall with a tinge of boredom.)

His descent could definitely use some work, and Dani kept a keen eye on him, making sure to adjust his slack as was necessary. It was a good thing for both of them that she wasn't the sort of girl to get distracted by the butt strapped into the harness; it wasn't that he didn't have a nice butt, probably, it was just that she was paying far more attention to his footing and the halting way that he took himself down the wall.

Still, she kept her voice enthusiastic as she encouraged him. "You're doing great! And don't worry about me, I can handle anything." Not necessarily true, but in the context of a supervised facility, she probably could handle anything. She could probably even handle him falling off the wall and landing on top of her, though that would suck more than a little -- and she wouldn't let that happen, anyway.

"Don't put so much weight on your left leg, okay? You're going to overbalance yourself on your way down. You're doing really great! Not too far to go, either!"

It had been a while since Dani had sincerely had fun with someone -- well, aside from Tallulah -- and considering how her morning had started out, she was really glad she'd decided to go to the rec center. Way to go, Dani.