Celadon Gym was always a bit too out of the way for Joel's liking. That's what he always told folks, anyway.
To be fair, he did genuinely feel that way. It was just, when paired with all his other reasons for never exercising, it tended to come off as an excuse. Which it was.
Why was it holed up in an isolated part of southwestern Celadon anyhow? Joel had asked his employees that before and gotten several different answers. One said it was because the gym leader favored quieter places. Another claimed it was a drug front. Someone joked that it's a gym rat containment zone.
Basically, nobody knew.
"Not like I'm here to find out," Joel muttered to himself as he pulled into a parking spot close to the building. He observed the lot; mostly empty, unsurprisingly. A familiar purple and cream figure stood at the entrance. He grinned.
Stepping out of the car, he waved at Harry, who enthusiastically waved back and ran up to him.
"Mornin', boss!"
"Morning, Harry."
Joel began walking to the entrance, Harry falling in step with him. "So who am I looking for here?"
Harry waved a hand. "Oh, don't worry. You'll know him when you see him."
What a helpful description.
Biting back a sarcastic remark, Joel let Harry take the lead.
The automatic doors of the entrance's glass wall opened and they stepped into a surprisingly quaint lobby. Well, surprising to Joel. The last gym he'd ever been to was the one at his college, and that was part of an educational building.
As Harry went over to the receptionist, Joel took everything in. The reception area was the typical white tiling associated with that modern "professional" kind of look he never cared for, but it gave way to a dark wood panel flooring that covered the rest of the room. On the opposite end was a large double door labeled "stadium." The other to two walls each had two similar entrances, with one on each side labeled with plaques he couldn't quite make out; the locker rooms, most likely. Of particular note were the various potted plants in the corners and on the desk. He couldn't identify any of them (not one for plants) but they certainly looked more exotic and less plastic than one would expect from your average lobby. One of the desk plants even sported an assortment of red, blue, and purple flowers.
Harry, evidently done talking with the Pidgeot receptionist, turned to Joel and pointed his thumb at the double doors on the left. "Payton's right through there. He doesn't like it when you interrupt his workout, so we'll have to wait a bit if we catch him during a set."
"Gotcha." Joel followed Harry through the closer double doors. The transition from wood paneling to softer gym tiles was jarring enough, but the plethora of gym equipment made him feel like he'd entered a new building altogether.
But before he could take it all in, a deep grunt caught his attention. Harry motioned to follow. They passed a row of bench presses when Joel stopped dead in his tracks.
Was...was that a person?
A massive, purple beast with a gray torso worked away at a plate-loaded weight machine, grunting and huffing with each rep.
Joel's mind raced. What was this thing? Who let it in here? Why was it using the equipment? And why was Harry just smiling and nodding to himself as he watched?
Then he thought: Oh. That's Payton.
Of course. That wasn't some creature, that was a Nidoking. A big Nidoking. Huge, even. Also the buffest man Joel had ever seen. He would've made a comment under his breath, but Harry's warning had him worried even the tiniest noise would--
No, no, none of that. This Payton fellow may be a real monster of a 'mon, but that was no reason to think of him as some feral beast.
Still, no one could deny his intimidating size. Those arms, for example. Biceps like bowling balls, forearms nearly the size of Joel's waist (which was not slim, mind you!), boulder shoulders, and hands big enough to crush a man's skull... And those veins! They bulged and throbbed, decorated so much of his arms. His traps threatened to swallow up his neck; turning his head must be difficult. Then came the torso. By Arceus, each individual pec had to be bigger than his head! And they jutted out so far, straining a white tank top that failed to cover a mighty roidgut. Below that, pillar-like legs tested the limits of black spandex shorts that stopped a third of the way down the thighs.
The plates clanged one last time as Payton let his arms fall to his sides. Drenched in sweat, he grabbed a towel laying at his side and wiped his face dry. He then dropped the towel and caught his breath for a moment before turning to his two-man audience, briefly eying Joel before focusing on Harry.
"Mornin', Harry!" he said with a grin. Damn, that's a deep baritone.
"Mornin', coach!" Harry replied. "Happy New Year!"
"Same to you!" Payton turned back to Joel. "I take it he's the guy you told me about?"
"Yup!" Harry gestured toward Joel. "Meet my boss, Joel!"
Payton slowly got up. He had to at that size. Honestly, it was a wonder he could even move at all. He didn't even have to try to emphasize his unfathomable musculature; it just happened naturally. "So you're him, eh? Harry's told me a lot about you."
Joel gawked for another moment then forced himself to focus. "Some of it good, I hope." That didn't sound too freaked out or anything, did it?
Thankfully, the joke hit its intended mark, eliciting a laugh from Payton. "Nothing but!" He extended a hand. "Nice to finally meet the man himself."
Cautiously, Joel accepted the hand, gripping and shaking it as firmly as he could. Hopefully Payton could feel that. "Nice to meet you too."
Payton seemed about to ask something when Harry darted over to Payton's pile of things by the weight machine and handed him a water bottle. "Ah, thanks," he said before taking a swig.
Joel couldn't help but smile. "Kid has a knack for getting in tune with others, doesn't he?"
"That he does, that he does."
The two older men beamed at Harry, whom turned bashful, clasping his hands behind his back. "Yeah well..." He sheepishly kicked at the floor. "Just doing what I can."
Payton nodded. (Was that difficult for him?) "Speaking of which-" he turned to Joel "-he mentioned you might be interested in my services."
"Well..." Joel's gaze fell to his paunch.
"C'mon boss!" Harry interjected. "You told me you'd like to 'put on the right kind of weight.' And Payton's just the guy to help you do it!"
"Sure am!" Payton stuck out his chest. So huge... "I didn't start off like this, y'know. Truth be told, I was about your size when I started, gut 'n all."
Joel stared in something akin to wonder. "Did you now..."
"Yup. It'd take some doing, but I promise if you take up my program and really stick with it, you'll get...close to my size."
One side of Joel's mouth curled upward. "Just close?"
"I like being the biggest guy in the room."
"Fair enough." He thought for a moment. "What exactly does your program entail of? I doubt anyone can get gains like yours just by working out."
"You'd be taking a lotta stuff. Pills, supplements, lots of protein powder, that sorta thing. It's also more about size than anything."
Joel looked past Payton--a tad difficult, considering--and noticed a pin inserted a little less than a third of the way down the weight stack. "Huh" was all he could say.
Gains beyond belief, but he wouldn't be as strong as he looked...
He shrugged. "Well, strength isn't much of a concern for me... I guess I--"
Payton held up a hand. "Just take a week to think it over. I'll give you my number and if you're up for it, gimme a call and we'll work something out."
Joel felt like breathing a sigh of relief. "Okay, great. Thanks."
"Perfect." Payton went to collect his things. "Well, if that's everything, I better hit the showers. Harry, come help me with my back, will ya?"
----------
Seed Sown:
Joel just can't get Payton out of his mind. To think that such a size was possible... And he could even achieve it! Well, maybe. First he has to make that call.
Apprehension:
Absurd sizes? Taking supplements? Is this Payton guy's program really such a good idea? Not sure what to think, Joel sticks around a little longer. Seeing how Harry gets along with the guy might help him decide.
On the Back Burner:
No need to mull it over right now; he can call Payton whenever. Besides, it's New Year's! Today's a day to rest, relax, and spend time with others. And with Edgar in town, the two of them can finally catch up.
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