the second cycle.

Amara can't help but fight a laugh. "Oh, thank you. Honestly, I think sometimes those reviews can make or break a place... or... person. But yeah I-I think a lot of kids kind of want the fish to be jumping through hoops like it's Sea World. I always liked learning..." Her eyes go first to the hand, then the person holding it out. Finally, she shakes with some formality. "Amara. I'm... I usually work in the back looking after the animals and the tanks, but they have me walking the floor today..." A pause, and then. "Oh! It's nice to meet you, Nira. If you have any questions for me..." She's in 'business mode,' so she can't help herself. @nirawu

"We're cut from the same cloth. My dad used to take me to a bunch of places to learn. I think I was the most boring kid in my class," Nira confesses with a small, breathy laugh. Boring back then, and not exactly thrilling right now; at least they're taking steps to be more chatty with stranger. That never used to be a thing.

“Oh, just simple stuff. You know, nothing too extreme…. at least not on the first few classes.” Kate smiled, giving her shoulders a shrug. It was a genuinely satisifying thought, almost as much as it was hearing that she didn’t want to get on her bad side. She liked to be feared, it was much better and less painful than being loved. “Why are your hands precious? You one of those hand models? Lame.”

"Oh, no, not even close. My hands are so busted from being dry and overworking," Nira admits, though it's not the most attractive thing to confess. Looking at their hands briefly, she gives a one-shoulder shrug. "Used to be a piercer, actually. And I direct movies -- well, sort of. Both jobs need your hands."

open starter: @aurorabaystarter

Well, this was unexpected. Nira blinks several times at the woman who seemingly came out of left field. Glancing over at the water they've been nursing for a half hour now, they second guess their answer before clearing her throat.

"Exactly. We can't either of getting injured. I can't stay in bed all day especially with a dead line so that pose can wait a different time." Reagan looked as well, curious of what the ongoing class is up to. "I'm all for that. I'm sure the instructor would understand. If not, I'm making up an excuse."

The joke can't help but make them laugh. Nodding adamantly, Nira plucks a mat out of the bin before returning their attention to Reagan. "Have you ever done this before? I mean, not just here, but yoga in general?"

Arwen laughed slightly. “No medieval torture poses here,” she said. “I like to keep my sessions somewhat relaxed — I’m here to work with you, not against you.”

Although the medieval comment had been a joke, Nira can feel the tension between her shoulder blades lessen with every sentence Arwen says. Relief floods her system at the idea of an experience that isn't chasing after a pack, but flowing to the beat of her own drum.

who: open / @aurorabaystarter where: tidal wave

"What speaks to you at the moment?" Although both albums in his hands are amazing, Nira isn't about to acclaim one over the other. Picking up their own copy of Talking Heads, they wriggle the package in their hand for emphasis. "Right now, I'm sort of in a classics kick, but I also think it's because the summer screams nostalgia to me."

"Only around certain people."

Albeit not the most polished idea, it was something scribbled in a notebook for weeks to ask Santi. A busy man with a lot going on didn't need another business pitch ( not to mention the lack of asking the museum, a habit in which Nira has to shake like a stubborn ketchup bottle at some point ) but years of mentorship and friendship dictate confidence.

"Alright," Aeris looks either way to spot Nira, and he waves lazily when he does. "We'll go over it when you get here."

"Aeris Flores, always so diligent in his homework," Nira teases with a hint of airiness to their tone. Oftentimes people are met with a much less friendly demeanor, though Nira has been trying their best with the museum gig to be a little less frigid. Piercing was about creating art, focusing on people's minds and perceptions to bring ideas to life.

"Not most of the time, no," she says with a little smile. Zoe's already got her colorful mat laid out, and is sitting in a neutral half lotus pose while the rest of their class filters in. "They're pretty chill here. It's a good workout, and at the end they even let us lay in silence for 10 minutes at the end, questioning our life choices while beautiful flute music plays." @nirawu

"Well, hey, that's good. I think I accidentally signed up for a hot yoga session years ago? Scarred me for life," Nira explains casually as they take a brief look at the mats people can borrow for the day. "Not sure if I should be questioning more of my life choices than I already have this year. Crying to 'My Heart Will Go On' is strictly prohibited."

closed for: @nirawu location: tejas cantina

"I'm used to having abnormal schedules, so trust me. Tuesday's a perfect night," Nira promises as they get comfortable. Although they shouldn't be nervous, it would be a lie if she said it didn't take a whole hour just to settle on something to wear.

Priya figured that with her thirtieth birthday quickly approaching and thoughts of reapplying for med school and all looming that she needed some zen. So she figured what better way to start than joining a yoga class? Besides, a little extra flexibility wasn't particularly a bad thing...at least that's what she kept telling herself as she pulled up her mass of curls atop her head, watching others nervously. "I've never actually done this before, so honestly it all kinda sounds a little torturous right now.."

Realizing they'd been setting a bad example, Nira takes a deep inhale, exhale, and shakes off the nerves of trying something new. "Alright, I can guide you. I've been here a few times, just not this particular class. Apparently hot yoga can do a lot for you? But I'm saying apparently in case if we get our asses kicked, in which I promise I'll pay for dinner after. Deal?"

"Backbends? Medieval torture poses? Did I walk into the wrong building?" Roxy mostly definitely had walked into the wrong building, quickly realizing how stupid she was because it was kind of obvious everyone was there for yoga considering so many people were in workout clothes and holding yoga mats. "Crap. I was looking for the pottery studio." She'd lived in Aurora Bay for years now and she'd heard people talk about the pottery studio but she'd never been herself and she wanted to check it out.

"Wait, there's a pottery studio near here?" This is what they get for not moseying around town enough. Dedicating their whole life to piercing and movies only to then make it about museums and movies -- Nira feels like they missed a step in community. "Is it for beginners, or...? Because I'd be willing to ditch the pain of a backbend for making a bowl or something."

“ I’m gonna be honest it’s my first time here, so your guess is as good as mine. “ Juno noted with a small smile. Sure she had done plenty of yoga in the past but she needed to start working on her hobbies aside from her media consumption and writing. “ but judging by everyone’s faces no one seems to be holding a grudge against the teacher so it seems promising? “ @nirawu

"You've never been to Grounded?" Nira asks with genuine interest. Although she hadn't been here in quite a few months, she'd assumed everyone in the beach town had tried it at least once. Beaches and yoga seem to connect. "They're really nice, but I've never been to a class beyond their 'Help You Sleep' workshops. You kind of just sit in child's pose for an hour, it's kind of amazing."