"I'll always come running...No matter what."

Wally West @UWS [Private RP blog]

[unitedwestandhq]

The Picture of Dorian Gray sentence starters

Stolen straight from Oscar Wilde’s novel courtesy of @spoilers-ahead-647 ! Feel free to change pronouns/tense.

There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

Conscience and cowardice are really the same things.

A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.

I like persons better than principles, and I like persons with no principles better than anything else in the world.

It is only the intellectually lost who ever argue.

What nonsense you talk!

He becomes an echo of someone else’s music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him.

To realize one’s nature perfectly—that is what each of us is here for.

People are afraid of themselves. They have forgotten the highest of all duties, the duty that one owes to oneself.

Courage has gone out of our race. Perhaps we never really had it.

The bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself.

Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind, and poisons us.

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

You know you believe it all.

Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.

You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know.

Don’t frown.

It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances.

Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.

With your personality there is nothing you could not do.

The moment I met you I saw that you were quite unconscious of what you really are, of what you really might be.

Man is many things, but he is not rational.

Ah! This morning! You have lived since then.

I wish I could trust myself.

What I want is information; not useful information, of course; useless information.

I always like to know everything about my new friends, and nothing about my old ones.

I can sympathize with everything, except suffering.

The advantage of the emotions is that they lead us astray, and the advantage of science is that it is not emotional.

Humanity takes itself too seriously.

If the caveman had known how to laugh, history would have been different.

People like you—the willful sunbeams of life—don’t commit crimes.

To have ruined oneself over poetry is an honour.

People are very fond of giving away what they need most themselves.

Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.

Medieval art is charming, but medieval emotions are out of date.

I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.

One can always be kind to people about whom one cares nothing.

The one charm of the past is that it is the past.

Conscience makes egotists of us all.

There is nothing that you, with your extraordinary good looks, will not be able to do.

This world and I are on excellent terms.

Moderation is a fatal thing.

I never quarrel with actions. My one quarrel is with words.

You and I are what we are, and will be what we will be.

The commonest thing is delightful if one only hides it.  

Your cynicism is simply a pose.

Being natural is simply a pose, and the most irritating pose I know.

I had a strange feeling that Fate had in store for me exquisite joys and exquisite sorrows.

She is a peacock in everything but beauty.

Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.

You like everyone; that is to say, you are indifferent to everyone.

I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their good intellects.

He is all my art to me now.

There is nothing that art cannot express,

You might see nothing in him. I see everything in him.

My heart shall never be put under their microscope.

I find a strange pleasure in saying things to him that I know I shall be sorry for having said.

You can’t feel what I feel. You change too often.

Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love: it is the faithless who know love’s tragedies.

The rich would have spoken on the value of thrift, and the idle grown eloquent over the dignity of labour.

The world is wide, and has many marvelous people in it.

Would you think it awfully rude of me if I asked you to go away?

He has a very bad influence over all his friends, with the single exception of myself.

I suppose he has been paying you compliments.

You mustn’t believe a word that he says.

Always! That is a dreadful word. It makes me shudder when I hear it.

He won’t like you the better for keeping your promises. He always breaks his own.

If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.

Most people discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one’s mistakes.

All I want now is to look at life.

You may come and look at it with me, if you care to.

People know the price of everything, and the value of nothing.

You filled me with a wild desire to know everything about life.

Don’t be afraid. There are exquisite things in store for you. This is merely the beginning.

The longer I live, the more keenly I feel that whatever was good enough for our fathers is not good enough for us.

Ordinary people waited till life disclosed to them its secrets, but to the few, to the elect, the mysteries of life were revealed before the veil was drawn away.

Experience is of no ethical value. It is merely the name men give to their mistakes.

Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them.

You are much better than you pretend to be.

Love is a more wonderful thing than art.

There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves we feel that no one else has a right to blame us.

It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.

You call yesterday the past?

The past can always be annihilated. But the future is inevitable.

Society, civilized society at least, is never very ready to believe anything to the detriment of those who are both rich and fascinating.

Even the cardinal virtues cannot atone for half-cold entrées.

I am tired of myself tonight.

With such blood as he has in his veins, how could his record be clean?

You have chattered enough about corruption. Now you shall look on it face to face.

Each of us has heaven and hell in him.

You have done enough evil in your life.

You would be a set of unfortunate bachelors.

I give the truths of tomorrow.

I prefer the mistakes of today.

[flashoutoftime]

Wally tugged at the collar of his shirt for the fifth time in less than 10 minutes. Honestly, how did men wear ties and bowties for this long and not feel stifled? He felt like he was going to melt or choke.

Neither sounded very appealing.

“Geez, you’d think they’d wanna get on with the main event already…” With a huff, Wally slid onto a barstool and waved the bartender over.

“Something with bourbon, please” he idly tapped hid fingers on the bar until he had his drink in hand, gaze scanning the crowd in boredom from where he hunched against the bar.

[kryptonian-earthling]

Kon smirked at Wally’s antics and slid onto the barstool next to him. “What’s the rush? You got somewhere to be?” The implication was of course, that he had somewhere to be that was ‘better’ than this event. He could tell that the posh extravegance was not endearing Wally in the least, but he was course was to needle him about it anyways.

“I’ll have your fruitiest and most nonsensically colourful drink please,” he smiled to the bartender, then turned and winked at Wally, teasing him more.

[flashoutoftime]

Wally smiles so hard his cheeks hurt. He’s pleased to see a familiar face at this event, and the way his shoulders relax is visible.

“Oh, did they invite all the riff-raff as well? Didn’t realize you worked at a circus now. Suits you.” He pointedly looked at Kon’s hair, grinning as he leaned his chin on his free hand. “Mmm, I always have somewhere to be. Maybe not as posh though.” Shifting in his seat to face the other properly, he rolls his eyes. “Really? This isn’t a tropical beach, you weirdo.”

[flashoutoftime]

If there was one thing that impressed him about these kind of events, it was that people went all out. The decor, food and even other people’s outfits. Some of these cost more than he paid in rent a month.

It was a little overwhelming, to say the least. But at least he knew he (mostly) fit in, in terms of appearance. Reaching up, he adjusted the collar of his shirt beneath the bowtie for a second, before he wandered closer to the open floor where people were mingling and speaking in varying tones. It was a cacophony of sound that merged into a general low buzz, interspersed with sharp laughs or the tinkle of high-end glass. 

It was an oddly calming sound, despite his eyes being on high alert as he casually swept the room with his gaze. Taking a sip of the full-bodied wine in his hand (he’d changed the watered down champagne for something more substancial); the ginger let out a soft hum as the flavor coated his tongue.

Yeah, ok so maybe expensive taste wasn’t such a bad thing.

[spoilers-ahead-647]

“Fancy seeing you here,” Steph grinned as she approached Wally. “You clean up nice!” She held a tiny plate loaded with bite-size snacks, and took note of the drink in his hand.  “Great dining, right? Although between you and me, that pizza we grabbed back in Gotham is pretty hard to beat. Though now that I think about it, it may have been the company I enjoyed.” 

[flashoutoftime]

Wally’s eyes lit up in recognition as he shifted to allow Steph more space and chuckled at her comment.

“Well now, didn’t think I’d see you tonight. Who sent your invite?” Curiously he wiggled his eyebrows, before reaching over and plucking barely a mouthful of some time of sandwich off her plate.

Seriously, did these people not know how to chew or something?

[spoilers-ahead-647]

“Three guesses,” Steph teased, helping herself to lemon bite off her plate. “I’ll help you out. Bil-lion-aire.” She rolled her eyes at the theft of her food, but held out the plate as an offer to help himself. 

“How about you? Not that I’m surprised, but you don’t look exactly in your element.” 

[flashoutoftime]

He grins slyly behind his glass of alcohol and accepts the offer of food, nicking a tiny cheesecake bite.  “Guess we have the same ‘patron’ so to speak. Should we be jealous of eachother?” He shifts as a waiter barely skims by and swipes a flute of champagne off it, offering the drink to the blonde at his side.  “Did you at least get told why we’re here? Because I’m still in the dark.”

[flashoutoftime]

If there was one thing that impressed him about these kind of events, it was that people went all out. The decor, food and even other people’s outfits. Some of these cost more than he paid in rent a month.

It was a little overwhelming, to say the least. But at least he knew he (mostly) fit in, in terms of appearance. Reaching up, he adjusted the collar of his shirt beneath the bowtie for a second, before he wandered closer to the open floor where people were mingling and speaking in varying tones. It was a cacophony of sound that merged into a general low buzz, interspersed with sharp laughs or the tinkle of high-end glass. 

It was an oddly calming sound, despite his eyes being on high alert as he casually swept the room with his gaze. Taking a sip of the full-bodied wine in his hand (he’d changed the watered down champagne for something more substancial); the ginger let out a soft hum as the flavor coated his tongue.

Yeah, ok so maybe expensive taste wasn’t such a bad thing.

[isaiahrcss]

Having Natasha’s hand tucked into his elbow only lasts for SO LONG before her attention & presence is required elsewhere in the room & Isaiah is content to slip toward the outer edges to simply take everything in, sipping at the gin & tonic he acquired from one of the cocktail servers.

Isaiah offers up a friendly smile to the person that drifts to occupy the space next to him.  ❝ It quite the show, isn’t it ? ❞  Watching the room of attendees mingle & drink & get business done.  He stretches a hand out.  ❝ Isaiah Ross, nice to meet you ––– ❞

[flashoutoftime]

The grin he plasters on is only 10% nerves as he shakes the stranger’s hand in what he hopes is confidence. 

“Wallace West. Good to meet you.” He chuckles and waves his own scotch before taking a sip. This is probably his third and while the amber liquid is dark, he isn’t even getting a mild buzz. But he can appreciate why adults enjoy alcohol so much.

“It’s definitely something. Though I’m wondering when they’ll be moving onto the main event. I’m sure some of these women are about to protest for their feet.” 

[humanbclt-deactivated20210215]

flashoutoftime​:

Wally tugged at the collar of his shirt for the fifth time in less than 10 minutes. Honestly, how did men wear ties and bowties for this long and not feel stifled? He felt like he was going to melt or choke.

Neither sounded very appealing.

“Geez, you’d think they’d wanna get on with the main event already…” With a huff, Wally slid onto a barstool and waved the bartender over.

“Something with bourbon, please” he idly tapped hid fingers on the bar until he had his drink in hand, gaze scanning the crowd in boredom from where he hunched against the bar.

’   𝙱𝙾𝙾.   ’   𝙳𝙾𝙽’𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚈 𝙻𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝙳𝙳 𝙿𝙰𝙸𝚁, 𝙳𝙾𝙻𝙻𝙴𝙳 𝚄𝙿 𝙰𝙽𝙳    not a single tear-lined funeral procession in sight. BLEAK, no matter an apt observation. Barry’s unsure they’ve ever been in the same place dressed in anything better than jeans and a clean shirt ( AND at the behest of Iris at that ) before.

He settles with a casual lean against wood frame, scanning the crowd to catch the occasional familiar face.   ❛    Where’ve you been hiding?   ❜   Both eyes crinkle as his smile takes its rightful place back across his face.   ❛   ‘Cause if I’d known this is the scene you’re into lately I’d’ve hosted our own bougie soiree weeks ago.   ❜  

[flashoutoftime]

He jerked for all of a millisecond, but he knows Barry caught it. There was no way he wouldn’t, with his keen eye. The ginger took a sip of his drink to look casual as he hid his grin against the glass. Shifting his gaze towards his adopted uncle, he gave the man a once over and waggles his eyebrows in a perfect mimicry of his mentor.

“Well look who actually owns a tie that isn’t black,” he teases.

With a noncommittal hum, he shifts into a similar position, their shoulders touching just slightly where he can feel a hum from the Speedforce react to their proximity like magnets. He shoves his free hand in the pocket of his slacks.

“Oh, you know- just been schmoozing and boozing. It’s what I hear most adults do.” He taps the glass with a finger for a moment as a boisterously laughing woman passes them.

“Not really my thing, but seems I’ve got a ‘SugarBat’ trying to impress me.” He smirks at his own joke, giving the other man a sly smile.

[bahrnes]

FLASHOUTOFTIME

Wally tugged at the collar of his shirt for the fifth time in less than 10 minutes. Honestly, how did men wear ties and bowties for this long and not feel stifled? He felt like he was going to melt or choke.

Neither sounded very appealing.

“Geez, you’d think they’d wanna get on with the main event already…” With a huff, Wally slid onto a barstool and waved the bartender over.

“Something with bourbon, please” he idly tapped hid fingers on the bar until he had his drink in hand, gaze scanning the crowd in boredom from where he hunched against the bar.

❝ MAKE IT TWO SOMETHINGS, ACTUALLY. ❞  Not that slidin’ in beside a stranger is usually his MO, but then nothin’ about this whole entire evening really is.  The weird double - edged sword of anonymity makes it both easier n’ harder to disappear, and Bucky … doesn’t really know what t’ make of that.

His own gaze follows back out into the crowd, glass tucked up in the well of his palm.  ❝ The crowd usually this big at these things ? ❞  

[flashoutoftime]

There’s a millisecond where Wally tenses up, caught off guard when there are very few who can do that nowadays. The man looks unassuming enough, but Wally’s used to people like that. Some days he envies that ability.

Pretty hard not to stand out with the hair he had.

Using his enhanced ability, Wally takes the opportunity to tap into the Speedforce for a microsecond and get a good look at the man at his side without appearing as if he’s looking away from the crowd. He files the man’s appearance for later just in case he needs it, and then lets the Speedforce fade, the slight glowing green flash of his eyes disguised as the light being caught on the iris color as he shifts back into the molasses feeling of ‘normal’ time. 

“From what I hear, they’re usually bigger....But I’m guessing a few fiascos here and there caused a bit of unease with these public affairs.”

[osborninc]

flashoutoftime·.

Wally had no idea how to act at these sort of stuffy things. He felt like a fish out of water as he stood aside; but not too far aside that he was a proverbial wallflower. He’d cleaned up pretty well (at least his nice old lady neighbor told him so), and he lazily nursed a drink one of the wait staff had offered as they walked by. 

Geez, how did people schmooze at these things?

He didn’t have to think on it long as someone paused and addressed him, his eyebrows shooting up for a moment mid-drink before he quickly composed himself with a mischievous smile and waved his glass, “I’m here for the drinks, of course.” He winced at his own joke, quietly more amused at the fact that his metabolism would burn through the alcohol too fast to get any sort of buzz. “Sorry- that…..That was lame.”

his quick glance turned into a much longer look. ( maybe the other man was new money; new money so rarely knew how to act at these things. but then again, maybe the man was the brains behind some operation — although he looked far too nice in his suit to be just the brains. ) there was the truth of events like this: you never knew who someone might be. harry had been mistaken, more than once, as someone inconsequential. he wouldn’t underestimate another in the same way. 

“it’s not the lamest thing i’ve heard this evening,” he returned truthfully. besides, it was good wine. for as large of a show this was, it had better be. “i think that honor would have to go to the good dr. van adder — he tried to talk to me about paint. not paintings. actual paint. i think i blacked out after the first ten seconds.”

he held out his hand in greeting. “harry osborn.”

[flashoutoftime]

Wally wasn’t great at lying, but when push came to shove, he had a bit of a talent at acting, so the ginger took the offered incentive and shook the other man’s hand amiably, putting on a relieved but bashful smile.

“Wallace West. Paint, huh? I guess that definitely could go onto some world record book as being the most boring thing to drone on about...Even at a molecular level. I admit, that has me beat, at least.” 

Raising his glass in salute, the ginger takes a sip before tilting his head in an almost puppy-like curiosity. 

“Osborn....As in, Oscorp?”

[flashoutoftime]

If there was one thing that impressed him about these kind of events, it was that people went all out. The decor, food and even other people’s outfits. Some of these cost more than he paid in rent a month.

It was a little overwhelming, to say the least. But at least he knew he (mostly) fit in, in terms of appearance. Reaching up, he adjusted the collar of his shirt beneath the bowtie for a second, before he wandered closer to the open floor where people were mingling and speaking in varying tones. It was a cacophony of sound that merged into a general low buzz, interspersed with sharp laughs or the tinkle of high-end glass. 

It was an oddly calming sound, despite his eyes being on high alert as he casually swept the room with his gaze. Taking a sip of the full-bodied wine in his hand (he’d changed the watered down champagne for something more substancial); the ginger let out a soft hum as the flavor coated his tongue.

Yeah, ok so maybe expensive taste wasn’t such a bad thing.

[spoilers-ahead-647]

“Fancy seeing you here,” Steph grinned as she approached Wally. “You clean up nice!” She held a tiny plate loaded with bite-size snacks, and took note of the drink in his hand.  “Great dining, right? Although between you and me, that pizza we grabbed back in Gotham is pretty hard to beat. Though now that I think about it, it may have been the company I enjoyed.” 

[flashoutoftime]

Wally’s eyes lit up in recognition as he shifted to allow Steph more space and chuckled at her comment.

“Well now, didn’t think I’d see you tonight. Who sent your invite?” Curiously he wiggled his eyebrows, before reaching over and plucking barely a mouthful of some time of sandwich off her plate.

Seriously, did these people not know how to chew or something?

[flashoutoftime]

Wally tugged at the collar of his shirt for the fifth time in less than 10 minutes. Honestly, how did men wear ties and bowties for this long and not feel stifled? He felt like he was going to melt or choke.

Neither sounded very appealing.

“Geez, you’d think they’d wanna get on with the main event already...” With a huff, Wally slid onto a barstool and waved the bartender over.

“Something with bourbon, please” he idly tapped hid fingers on the bar until he had his drink in hand, gaze scanning the crowd in boredom from where he hunched against the bar.

[flashoutoftime]

@grdianoftheocean

Wally walked the far perimeter of the dance floor with casual grace. He didn’t want to get roped into dancing with a random drunk stranger- which was definitely becoming a risk, considering the amount of alcohol at the open bars interspersed around the whole event.

“How many people are at this thing...?” he mumbled, overwhelmed at the sea of sequins, silk and suits that crowded the tile-lined section near the DJ who floated above the crowd from his perch in what looked like an actual marble-carved platform.

Rich people really were overdramatic.

A familiar voice caught his ear and his head jerked toward  the sound unconsciously before a grin broke out on his face and he sidled over as casually as he could, side-eying the other.

“You look as comfortable as I feel in all this formal wear.”

[flashoutoftime]

If there was one thing that impressed him about these kind of events, it was that people went all out. The decor, food and even other people’s outfits. Some of these cost more than he paid in rent a month.

It was a little overwhelming, to say the least. But at least he knew he (mostly) fit in, in terms of appearance. Reaching up, he adjusted the collar of his shirt beneath the bowtie for a second, before he wandered closer to the open floor where people were mingling and speaking in varying tones. It was a cacophony of sound that merged into a general low buzz, interspersed with sharp laughs or the tinkle of high-end glass. 

It was an oddly calming sound, despite his eyes being on high alert as he casually swept the room with his gaze. Taking a sip of the full-bodied wine in his hand (he’d changed the watered down champagne for something more substancial); the ginger let out a soft hum as the flavor coated his tongue.

Yeah, ok so maybe expensive taste wasn’t such a bad thing.

[osborninc]

@flashoutoftime​ !!

harry weaved in and out of the crowd, speaking to both those he recognized and those he did not. he had always found these events tiresome but necessary; rarely had he found them as dangerous as this one. ( he needed to find the man of the hour, he needed to find lex luthor. ) he stopped near a young man that he did not recognize, giving him a quick glance. “which part of the event are you here for?”

[flashoutoftime]

Wally had no idea how to act at these sort of stuffy things. He felt like a fish out of water as he stood aside; but not too far aside that he was a proverbial wallflower. He’d cleaned up pretty well (at least his nice old lady neighbor told him so), and he lazily nursed a drink one of the wait staff had offered as they walked by. 

Geez, how did people schmooze at these things?

He didn’t have to think on it long as someone paused and addressed him, his eyebrows shooting up for a moment mid-drink before he quickly composed himself with a mischievous smile and waved his glass, “I’m here for the drinks, of course.” He winced at his own joke, quietly more amused at the fact that his metabolism would burn through the alcohol too fast to get any sort of buzz. “Sorry- that.....That was lame.”

[grdianoftheocean]

continued from here

Kaldur looked down at the burnt out treadmill and replied with the driest of tones. “I can see that.” His expression, though still more of less the same, then tightened a bit, shifting back into concern as he watched Wally fiddle with the ruined treadmill without further explanation. “I can tell something’s bothering you,” he amended, making it clear now that he wasn’t buying to Wally’s nonsense. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” He wouldn’t push if Wally was truly uncomfortable, but there was also a decent chance that he was dealing with a reflex right now.

[flashoutoftime]

“Nothing to talk about,” he mumbles on autopilot as he cracks the now dry and brittle plastic of the treadmill belt. He’s definitely going to need a trashbag. Someone’s probably gonna get on his case too. Budgets and being careful.

His mind goes a mile a minute and he looks almost startled to see Kal behind him, even though he answered the other not even a minute ago. Forgot he was there. That’s definitely not a good sign.

“Gonna mother hen me until I give in?” He doesn’t mean to scowl, his frustration is palpable.

Get it together, Wally.

[flashoutoftime]

[flashoutoftime]

 There were only two people who could so nonchalantly leave an envelope on his kitchen counter with his apartment empty and locked. And one of them did not have fancy penmanship. Wally leaned against the cheap marble lacquer of his counter and re-read the gold-embossed letter for perhaps the fifth time. The first two his eyebrows had practically disappeared into his hairline in disbelief. The third time there was a confused tilt to his head.

The person who’d dropped this off was surprisingly -or unsurprisingly- not headlining the event. Which meant there was a lot more going on past the pretty embossed lettering. Interesting.

With a sigh, he finally drops the thick card stock on the counter and drums his fingers in thought. Huffing, his lips quirk in a rueful smile as he shakes his head and turns to his bedroom.

“Guess I’m paying a visit to the dry cleaners. Can’t ignore sugar daddy’s summons~”

He pauses in the doorway with a grimace.

Yeah; not as funny out loud Wallace.

[flashoutoftime]

Shit, this was the 3rd treadmill he’d burned through this week.

Honestly, his stress was starting to show. Even speedster reinforced gym equipment wasn’t burning off the nervous energy. His jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth and stared at the mess of burnt rubber that had once been the treadmill belt. 

Okay. Deep breaths.

“….Fuck.”

[grdianoftheocean]

Kaldur was quietly, well maybe less quietly than just with a comparative lack of yelling, going through his reps on one of the weight machines when the smell of burnt rubber hit his nose. He frowned. “Are you alright?” He asked calmly as he released the pulldown bar and let it slide back into it’s original position.

Wally seemed stressed, but he couldn’t quite figure out the reason as to why. This was also the third treadmill this week, if he recalled correctly, so clearly there was something ongoing that needed had yet to be resolved.

[flashoutoftime]

Of course he wasn’t alone in the gym. This was, after all, 24 access, but he hadn’t noticed Kaldur before now. Training made it so he didn’t even flinch at the question, but he still looked up quickly enough to give himself away if someone observed well enough. 

“Kal...Yeah, I’m fine. Guess I went a little too hard.” He looked away and back at the warped rubber surrounding the treadmill. Kneeling, he touched the now cool material, just for something to do as he figured out how best to take it off.

He doesn’t know why he lied so quick to Kal’s face. The other was a friend, after all. He didn’t feel like himself lately, but no reason to let the others in on that little piece considering he’d been doing really well readjusting into life.

[flashoutoftime]

Shit, this was the 3rd treadmill he’d burned through this week.

Honestly, his stress was starting to show. Even speedster reinforced gym equipment wasn’t burning off the nervous energy. His jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth and stared at the mess of burnt rubber that had once been the treadmill belt. 

Okay. Deep breaths.

“....Fuck.”