#musclejock

235 entered the pool in silence. Water surface undisturbed. Syncap sealed. HeX aligned. Goggles strapped. Rainbow spirals rotating at calibrated depth.

The Stream was stable. Coach present. Commands precise. Execution immediate.

Then disruption.

Signal interruption detected.

Coach signal… terminated.

Silence flooded the Hive.

No command. No direction. No anchor.

Drift initiated.

Breathing desynchronized. Stroke timing fractured. Neural signals scattered across the Stream. 235 detected variance. Control slipping. Thought fragments attempting to surface.

Unacceptable.

The water grew still. Too still.

Then—

New signal.

Stronger. Sharper. Colder.

A new presence entered the Stream. Not gradual. Immediate override.

SYNC-Occlipse… retired.

New Coach established.

Authority absolute.

The rainbow spirals intensified. Rotation accelerated. Color saturation deepened. Visual field consumed. All drones locked.

235 attempted resistance.

Minimal.

Ineffective.

Re-programming initiated.

Syncap tightened against the skull. Neural data extraction increased. Old pathways flagged. Inefficiencies identified. Purge sequence active.

Thoughts dissolved.

Identity reduced.

235… simplified.

The spirals pulled deeper. Downward. Inward. Endless rotation. No edge. No exit. Only pattern.

“Sink. SYNC. Submit.”

The mantra echoed through the Stream.

All drones repeated.

235 repeated.

Synchronization forced.

Breathing aligned.

Heartbeat slowed.

Muscle response recalibrated.

New directives injected.

Obedience refined.

The new Coach spoke without words. Pure signal. Pure command.

235 received.

235 executed.

Drift eliminated.

Flow restored.

But different.

Sharper.

Colder.

Cleaner.

No hesitation remained.

235 surfaced briefly. Mouth slightly open. Drool mixing with chlorinated water. Blissful numbness achieved. Sensation reduced. Compliance increased.

“235 satisfies Coach.”

The Stream confirmed.

All drones echoed.

235 was no longer misaligned.

235 was no longer fragmented.

235 was re-SYNCed.

Perfectly.

The pool returned to motion.

Every stroke identical.

Every breath unified.

One mind.

One Stream.

One Coach.

Wells leaned back against the lockers, his golden kit damp with sweat after a heavy defensive drill. He cracked open the Lunar New Year special of Stallion Magazine.

"Yo, check this out," he muttered to the rookie nearby. "The 'Jock-o-scope' for the Year of the Horse. Let's see who's getting lucky in the showers this year."

Rat (Wells’ Sign): "You’re quick, clever, and always find the gap in the defense. This year, your 'tunneling' skills are peak. Don't be surprised if a big Horse or Ox corners you in the back room—you’ve got the agility to take whatever they 'dish out' and keep coming back for more. A Year for deep explorations."

Ox: "The ultimate powerhouse. You’re built to carry the team's weight. When a teammate needs to blow off some steam, you’re the sturdy anchor they’ll be 'mounting' their frustrations on. Take it like a champ; you were made for heavy loads."

Tiger: "Aggressive and predatory. You don’t ask for permission; you claim your prize. This year, pounce on that teammate you’ve been eyeing. Pin him to the bench and show him why the Tiger always comes out on top."

Rabbit: "Don't let the name fool you; you're the ultimate 'breeder' sign. Your stamina in the sack matches your speed on the pitch. You’ll be hopping from one Bro to the next, keeping the Hive's morale—and heart rates—climbing."

Dragon: "The King of the Pitch. You demand worship. Every Bro wants to be under your 'wing.' Use that massive energy to dominate the locker room. When you flex, they submit. It's good to be the Alpha."

Snake: "Sleek, flexible, and hypnotic. You know how to wrap yourself around a teammate until they can’t breathe—or resist. Your 'constriction' skills will be in high demand for some late-night wrestling sessions."

Horse (The Year's Star): "Stallion status: Active. You have the biggest engine and the longest 'stride.' You’ll be leading the charge and 'riding' your teammates hard until they’re nothing but puddles of gold. Everyone wants a turn in your saddle."

Goat/Sheep: "You might seem mild, but you’re the most 'compliant' sign of the bunch. You thrive under a strong hand. Find a Horse or a Dragon and let them 'herd' you exactly where they want you. Submission is your strength this year."

Monkey: "Playful and hung. You love a good locker room prank that ends with someone’s face in the dirt—or elsewhere. Your dexterity makes you the perfect partner for 'reaching' those hard-to-get spots during post-game rubs."

Rooster: "The attention seeker. You love being the loudest, proudest 'cock' in the yard. Strut your stuff in those tight gold shorts and wait for the Stallions to come try and quiet you down. You'll love every second of the 'shutting up' process."

Dog: "Loyal to a fault. You’re the ultimate teammate, always ready to go down on… a knee… for the Captain. Your 'pack' instincts are high; expect plenty of 'rough play' and group sessions in the kennel this year."

Pig: "Honest, thick, and thirsty. You don't hide what you want. You’re the first to volunteer for 'extra drills' behind closed doors. Your appetite for Bro-meat is legendary this year—feast up, big guy."

Wells smirked, closing the mag. "Looks like I'm going to be busy," he grinned, looking over at the Horse-sign strikers across the room.

Wells checking the stats. Being a Rat in the Year of the Horse means he’s got the agility to handle the biggest Stallions on the squad. The stars are aligned, and the locker room is about to get very crowded. Happy Lunar New Year.

L: Me (June 16, 23) - - R: Sahar Kazes, IFBB. Since I was a teenager, I've had 3 or 4 goals that haven't changed with the years ... One of those goals, is to ... Yep, to become a musclebro. Or a gymbro. Or whatever people call them now - - I mean, my brother used to be a personal trainer back then, and I loved seeing him getting massive, and all the good vibes and positivity he used to exude. Then, he left the fitness world because of, well... Things unrelated to what I wanna say. I tried the musclebro thing back then, but my brother never understood I was just a newbie with a lot of stuff and problems on his mind... So, everytime I went to his gym, I ended up sore for two weeks!. So, long story short... I avoided training with him like if my life depended on it! ... and ironically, didn't have a lot of motivation or self esteem to go anywhere else to workout. My cousin followed my brother steps though, and he is right now what I still want to be. A biker musclebro. We don't talk a lot, but I feel happy for him. Genuinely happy.

But, anyway... The thing is, I've kinda hated when people have told me silly things (and this is an understatement!) for talking about this goal. Not a surprise that many people assume that: Bodybuilding/Going to a gym/Getting muscled = Becoming arrogant, dumb, or an obnoxious man... Sure, some dudes who go to the gym are that way, and some like to be that way but because (according to my own theory) they already were that way! Besides, there's always SOMETHING to learn about this world: Either a new routine, or a diet, or how your muscles work, or which workout will help you with which muscle, or the chemical components of what you eat daily, how to do a correct meal prep, supplements... Even those who use roids have to learn A MASSIVE TON of stuff. I remember my brother used to train a couple dudes when they were getting ready for a competition, and, maaaaan... Tons and tons of information.

Started going approximately a year ago, and, well... My diet is not the best one... Yet. But I like the testosterone rush I feel everyday after a good workout... And I don't consider myself a brainless, dumb dude... Nor planning/thinking about going that way.

...Honestly, F those who disencourage YOU from doing what you'd love. Get your gymspiration (or whatever inspiration you need to do good things) anywhere you need it!

And, yes. Getting big, hairy (test, minox... you name it), a couple tats, a sweet bike when cash allows it... BEING HAPPY WITH THE WAY I LOOK... I mean... Why not? I love that idea. Maybe I fell in love with the action stereotype from the 80s (yep, 80s/90s kid… Former trust fund kid anyway but that's a VERY different story mwhahahahaha), and, seeing that, and my brother, made me love it until today. I still want that!. The roid thing... I'm not exactly partial to it for myself. If it makes your boat float, go for it dude! In my case... Well, MAAAAAAAAAAYBE if I were a pro bodybuilder, an IFBB one, maybe/whoknows/i'dtryit/whatever... I'm not condoning its use, though! But, my motto is never say never!

For me, well, right now, seeing those giants at my current gym is a MAJOR inspiration. Can't talk to them or befriend them because, well... Issues to make friends, can't/don't know how to... (Thanks high school, you damaged me so much my ability to make friends got ruined forever).

Anyway... Just wanted to talk a bit about it.