Gym Time.
The alarm blared at 9 am, jolting Cadmus from his slumber. He groggily glared at the intrusive noise, only to realize he had no plans for the day. Those were the moments he cherished the most—when he could laze around, perhaps indulge in a rejuvenating spa session or treat himself to a relaxing facial. He relished the idea of sleeping in and disregarded the peculiar shadowy figure lurking in the corner of his room. However, before he could fully embrace the day, his tranquility was abruptly shattered.
Oh no. A sudden tendril snaked around Cadmus' leg, lifting him effortlessly into the air. He couldn't help but let out a frustrated cry, "GOD DAMN IT, KARNUS! HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO GET IN HERE?" Cadmus quickly grabbed a nearby silk sheet, attempting to cover himself. After all, he rarely wore anything to bed.
With a mischievous grin, Karnus, his younger brother, maintained his hold on Cadmus, dangling him in mid-air. "Come on, Cad. You know the drill. If I had told you beforehand, you would have made it more difficult for me. It's gym time!" Karnus playfully dropped Cadmus with a satisfying thud, preparing to drag him along for their exercise session.
Cadmus grumpily stood up and draped the sheet around him like a makeshift toga. "I'm not going, it's Sunday! Besides, I have my own gym, Karny."
Karnus smirked, undeterred by Cadmus' resistance. "Yes, I know you have your own gym, but we're going to mine today. You use your gym as a pickup spot, and that's precisely why we're going elsewhere. Now, hurry up and get dressed. Our parents are waiting in the car."
Cadmus raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You brought them along? What's the occasion?"
Karnus grinned proudly. "Well, it's Mother's Day. I thought it would be nice to have a family get-together."
Cadmus let out an exasperated groan. Of course, it was Mother's Day. He mentally reminded himself to send Al and Stan flowers later. "What about Bennie and Syliph? Are they joining us?"
Karnus shook his head. "No, they're both busy. We'll meet them for lunch later."
Cadmus snapped his fingers, instantly transformed into proper gym attire, though his melting eyeliner still made him look a bit disheveled. "Why don't they have to go to the gym?"
Karnus shrugged nonchalantly. "Because they manage to keep up with their exercise without anyone asking them to."
"You little piece of..." Cadmus began, his words trailing off as he realized he was wasting his breath. "Fine. I'll meet you downstairs once I'm ready."
"Just don't make us wait Caddy."
A little while later, Cadmus, holding a coffee cup in hand, joined his family outside and climbed into the car. However, in his haste, he accidentally bumped his horns against the door frame. "SHIT!" he exclaimed, wincing in pain, before noticing his parents seated inside. "Hey Pops, Hey Dad," he greeted them, attempting to recover his composure.
Alphonse and Stan, completely absorbed in each other's embrace, finally acknowledged Cadmus's presence. Alphonse cast a concerned glance at his son. "Good morning, Cadmus... You're looking... pale. You had time to get coffee, but not for us?"
Cadmus smirked and fastened his seat belt, ready for the banter. "Well, considering I'm probably paying for lunch today, I figured it didn't really matter. Do I have that right?" He shot a glance at Karnus, who confirmed the arrangement with a nod.
"Yep! But you really should have just gotten water. Coffee isn't the best choice before a workout session," Karnus chimed in, offering his well-intentioned advice.
Upon arriving at the gym, Cadmus observed Alphonse and Stan, as expected, partnering up and engaging in all the activities that couples typically do at the gym.
Meanwhile, Cadmus found himself compelled to run laps, with Karnus as his coach. He huffed and puffed, his energy depleting until he eventually collapsed, like a house made of sticks.
"Come on, man, get up! Do you even parkour?" Karnus scolded, urging Cadmus to rise.
"Of course not!" Cadmus retorted, crawling back to his feet. "I'm not like you. I don't bound from rooftop to rooftop like some demented Mothman!"
"Well, perhaps you should, bro. You're really getting out of shape," Karnus chided.
"I beg your pardon! I look as good as I ever did!" Cadmus protested, his pride wounded.
"Yeah, and how much of that is glamour magic?" Karnus questioned, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
Cadmus hesitated for a moment before offering a flimsy explanation, "Um... only a little, just to adjust my makeup."
"Uh huh," Karnus responded, his disbelief evident.
"Besides, magic eats fat. I don't see the point in exercise if that's the case," Cadmus countered, attempting to justify his aversion to physical activity.
Alphonse, who was diligently working on the stair master at this point, chimed in. "Son, magic may consume fat, but it doesn't replace it with muscle. That's why we exercise."
Stan, momentarily distracted from his bench curls by Alphonse's sculpted posterior, nodded in agreement. "Yeah... what he said."
Alphonse let out a playful chuckle, his tone laced with flirtation. "Are you distracted, my love?" he asked, maintaining his energy.
"Very~," Stan replied, matching Alphonse's playfulness, until Karnus intervened with a sharp whistle.
"Hey! This may be a holiday for you two, but this is still my gym. Don't make me separate you," Karnus admonished, his authoritative tone cutting through their antics.
Both Alphonse and Stan rolled their eyes in unison, mimicking the gestures of annoyed teenagers being told to clean their rooms. "Yes, sir," they replied in unison, a hint of mock obedience in their voices.
Turning his attention to Cadmus, Karnus reminded him of their agreement. "And as for you, Cadmus, we made a deal. It's either this gym session or you go through Aunt Irma's Boot Camp, and you know how severe she gets."
The thought of being chased through a Serbian forest by a wild bear did not appeal to Cadmus in the slightest. Reluctantly, he got up and continued his exercise routine without much complaint.
@violeteyedkiller @passimtemere