aegean-okra:

The Basilica Cistern, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul/Constantinople. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The bases of two columns reuse blocks carved with the visage of Medusa. The origin of the two heads is unknown, though it is thought that the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late Roman period. There is no written evidence that suggests they were used as column pedestals previously. Tradition has it that the blocks are oriented sideways and inverted in order to negate the power of the Gorgons’ gaze, however it is widely thought that one was placed sideways only to be the proper size to support the column. The upside down Medusa was placed that way specifically because she would be the same height right side up.

Welp, 8,000 words from the start of the fic writing it linearly and I finally have Newt and Hermann in the same room. I give up. I’m not even going to try to predict how long this fic is going to be, I’m just gonna have fun with it. 

I was just thinking about Newt and the Crossfit thing. First of all, I’m not 100% sure it’s canonical, but it’s a fandom detail that keeps cropping up that I rather like so I keep using it, but it did get me thinking.

Newt is canonically making a seven figure yearly salary now, which is significant over ten years even when adjusted for inflation. People that wealthy are more likely to have a personal trainer rather than attend a bootcamp class. 

But here’s the thing: you develop a personal relationship with a trainer, they very closely monitor your health and wellbeing. So this tells me that the Precursor aim in sending him to Crossfit was about keeping the meat vessel in shape, but in an impersonal way. You can show up at a bootcamp class and never exchange more than two words with anyone. And it’s efficient, far more so than even attending a gym, or having a gym of your own at home. You’re in and out in an hour. 

So not only did they choose one of the most torturous forms of fitness to get Newt quickly and efficiently in shape, they actually dipped outside the norm for his wealth demographic to make sure he wasn’t getting in shape in a way that would better suited his lifestyle, but that would mean having a close relationship with another human.