lostrealm | Slings and Arrows

Entry tags:

Slings and Arrows

Characters: Darkleer and Equius
Date: October 21st, shortly after the invasion
Format: Action spam
Content Warnings: None
Summary: Equius really wants to learn to shoot arrows, and Darkleer has agreed to tutor him.

[Equius' first task was to find a 'field' for them to shoot. Considering they're in a cave, that's not quite a straightforward job, but he delves into the caves outside the city, past the farmland hydroponics, where the sensitive equipment could be destroyed by wayward arrows and frustrated, raging trolls.

Finally he comes to an empty cave that's quite high-ceilinged and long. Long enough to be an archery field.

He texts Darkleer with the directions to the spot, and sits down to wait]

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[It's fine with Darkleer that it took Equius awhile to find a suitable field. His reasons for this are twofold: one, it will show that Equius is taking this seriously, and two, it gave him time to equip an old bow with certain... training tools.]

[He appears beside Equius all at once, having used the void to sneak up on him. That's just what he does. He arrives in full armor, Archermedes in one hand, and his new pet, Boris the horse spider, on his shoulder.]

Equius.

[Equius startles at the unexpected appearance of his ancestor. Dang. In the past he's managed to use his own relatively instinctive command of the void to prevent his ancestor from hiding or fleeing from him, but Darkleer is apparently getting better at evading him.

He gets to his feet, and his attention is immediately caught by the spider]

Oh! He's quite lovely.

[These won't just be archery lessons; they'll also be using the void lessons, although Darkleer won't tell Equius about that right away. It's easier sometimes to use the void when you're not trying, and he thinks archery will be stressful enough.]

[The horse spider nickers and waves one foreleg at Equius. Darkleer nods towards him.]

Boris.

[Then he holds out Archermedes, balancing it on two fingertips.]

Archermedes. Legendary weapon.

[Equius smiles faintly and twiddles his fingers at Boris] Pleased to meet you, Boris.

[But then he has eyes only for the bow. He stares at it, his breath catching in his throat. He doesn't dare touch it, visions of his 1/2 bowkind card dancing before his eyes. He wonders if this is what Eridan felt when he first saw Ahab's Crosshairs.]

It's exquisite, sir.

Thank you.

[Darkleer appreciates how Equius isn't trying to touch Archermedes; it's made for STRONG, but he's still careful with it, and doesn't know enough about Equius' own abilities to be comfortable with him handling it. He lets Equius look at it for another moment before putting it back in his sylladex, getting out his communicator to explain further.]

D ---> Archermedes is a legendary weapon
D ---> It was built specifically for me, and responds best to me
D ---> Others can use it, but only I can unlock its true potential

D ---> Once you master archery
D ---> I will help you make a legendary bow of your own

[His eyes widen and he nods with barely suppressed excitement. He's doing his best to contain himself, to have the dignity befitting one of his caste, but this is literally all of his dreams come true.

Well. The ones without any questionable content, anyway.

But there is one thing that he doesn't get]

I'm honoured, sir. But how can I master archery without a bow that can withstand my STRENGTH?

[Darkleer can see right through you, Equius. He knows how excited you are. It's a little nostalgic for him, really, seeing such hardly contained joy. He was the same way, long ago.]

Practice.

[Then he grins, and it's a little creepy, seeing as his facial muscles aren't used to this particular expression. He pulls another bow out of his sylladex, and this one couldn't be more different from Archermedes. It's old and battered, scratched and dented, ugly and industrial-looking. It has no flash, nothing special about it. The only thing that makes it unique is that it looks like it's built to withstand a nuclear explosion.]

[Or maybe just a very STRONG young blueblood.]

With this.

[And he holds it out to Equius.]

[Well. It's not beautiful, but it does look as if it may be strong enough to withstand him.

He reaches out with cautious fingers and takes it, then runs his fingers along the bow's length. He doesn't really mind that it looks like shit, if it actually allows him to fire an arrow.]

This isn't so legendary?

No.

[Darkleer reconsiders.]

Legendary to Archeradicators.

[It's a training tool, meant to help recruits develop their muscles and get stronger, but it worked equally well for a young blueblood who had no need for greater STRENGTH and just needed a weapon powerful enough to withstand him. If Equius examines the bow closely, he'll find the arrow sign he shares with Darkleer carved into the bow's base.]

Show what you know.

[Darkleer retrieves an arrow and offers it.]

[Equius takes the arrow and tries to calm himself. His hands are shaking a tiny bit, but he's got to stay calm. He knows what to do, at least for the first part.

He raises the bow and tries to draw it. His stance is pretty good, though not perfect. Though he's worked hard, he's self-taught.

But this time, instead of the bow breaking, it's the arrow that snaps in his fingers]

Fudge! [He roars in frustration]

[Darkleer is entirely unsurprised by this turn of events; he did the same thing, long ago.]

Equius. Quiet.

[He says it softly, but firmly; he is used to being obeyed. He doesn't retrieve another arrow, but instead steps up behind the younger troll, carefully and calmly adjusting his stance.]

Like this.

[If Equius will allow him, he'll take his descendent's wrist and move his arm through the action of drawing an arrow, even though there's no arrow in his hand.]

[Though often it takes some act of violence to work out the energy of his anger, the tone is enough to cut through and he pauses. He lets out a long, rough breath, and lowers his shoulders.

Having his ancestor come up behind him like that actually calms him a little. He settles into the hold and allows Darkleer to guide him through the motion]

Can I...do this? Truly?

I did.

[That should be reassurance enough, as far as Darkleer is concerned. He won't mention how many hours and sweeps he spent with the ugly bow Equius is now holding before he advanced enough to use Archermedes.]

[He repeats the motion with Equius' arm a few more times, then lets his arm go and steps back. Before he does, Boris scurries down his arm and onto Equius' shoulder.]

You try now.

[It really is reassurance enough. If Darkleer could do it, then there's hope for Equius. He can't imagine that he's stronger than his ancestor!

After a few more practice movements, he's sure he knows what he's doing. Boris is noticed, but not really heeded, as he focuses his gaze on the far end of the cavern.

Okay. It's time to do it. It's time to make it happen.

He draws back the arrow, and it hits him again. He can really do this! He can really fire an arrow. Right now, in a few moments, he's going to fire an arrow for the very first--

And as the excitement reaches a fever pitch it breaks again]

Fiddlesticks!

[It's okay; Darkleer would have been astounded if Equius had pulled it off the second try. He takes another arrow out of his sylladex, and reaches out. He puts his hands over Equius' and slowly moves through the motion with him, using the arrow. Darkleer is doing all the work, but Equius can feel it this way, the move and pull of muscles, the tautness of the bow.]

[The arrow releases with a twang, and hits the target in a perfect bullseye.]

D ---> It is all about control
D ---> Controlling yourself, and controlling the bow and the arrow
D ---> You are STRONG enough to draw the bow back, this is not an issue
D ---> You need to practice pulling back the bowstring without an arrow in it

D ---> Try

[Yes, perhaps pulling back and releasing the bow string without an arrow would be a good practice. If he could only do it without getting really excited and nervous, he's sure he could release the arrow instead of snapping it in his fingers. At least he's not breaking the bow anymore.

He nods and begins to practice, pulling back the bow string and releasing it, trying to pretend there's an arrow. It's not as fulfilling as doing it with a real arrow, seeing it streak towards the target, but he knows he's just not ready]

[Darkleer watches, occasionally making minor adjustments to Equius' form. The kid has potential, definitely.]

Better.

Now switch hands.

[Er wait, what? He's never tried to draw his bow the other way before, and now he proceeds to fumble through switching hands, switching his stance, and trying to draw and getting all tangled]

Why is this necessary?

[Rather than answer, Darkleer whips Archermedes out of his sylladex and begins rapidly firing arrows at the target. He alternates hands, and while there's just the slightest hesitation when he uses his left arm, it's practically indistinguishable which arm he's using.]

[Soon, the target is bristling with arrows, and he stops, not even winded.]

What if arm injured in battle? [Swallow and throat clear.] Use both, never incapacitated. Practice.

[Equius' jaw is on the cavern floor]

Y-yes, sir. I understand.

[He quickly pulls out the bow again and begins to pull the bow string left-handed with renewed determination. Slowly, he begins to fall into a pattern, growing more comfortable, and relaxing]

Better.

[Darkleer puts one heavy hand on Equius' shoulder, and Boris takes the opportunity to scurry back up Darkleer's arm and onto his shoulder.]

Everyday, practice. Someday, use arrows.

[Equius looks up at the heavy weight of that hand, so reassuring and... almost paternal, if only he knew what that word meant. He smiles with pride, then grows serious again]

May I keep the bow, so I can practice?

[Whatever, Equius, he was only putting his hand on your shoulder so Boris could climb back on him! That little squeeze before he lets go is strictly your imagination!]

Yes.

D ---> We will meet again in three day's time
D ---> You will continue to practice in the interim
D ---> Use both hands
D ---> Draw and release until it is as natural as breathing

[Equius bows deeply, not knowing what else to do. He sort of wants to hug Darkleer, but that wouldn't be dignified, would it? Nepeta would hug him, and probably lick him, but Equius definitely can't do that.]

Thank you, sir. I won't disappoint you, I swear.

[Yes, please don't hug Darkleer. Tavros tried that once, and it was super awkward and weird.]

[Darkleer inclines his head back at Equius--a mutual sign of respect--and nods at his statement.]

I know you will not.

[Then the void starts to swirl up around him as he makes his departure.]

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Slings and Arrows

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