Archery is hard

[culbutiri]

Characters: Nesir Aeser and Diarmuid
Setting: Forest (the not safe one)
Format: Either
Summary: These two meet, also there is archery fail
Warnings:

The bow Nesir had looked as terrifying as it's wielder did not. Though it had been crafted out of wood found in the forests here, or perhaps because of that fact it looked evil, as if it wanted to do you harm.

A fitting weapon and Nesir was pleased with it. With the look of it anyways, it was still a bow and bows were still the most stupid weapon ever created. But she had promised Ganondorf she would become competent with one, and so here she was, in the forest- she had thought this the safer forest and was a little confused at the amount of monstrous animals. Not that she minded, they made good targets.

She hadn't hit one yet. Except one squirrel that had mocked her so much she had given up and threw a dagger at it. The anger of the last month had faded into a muted annoyance with everything but she forced herself to focus. Dipping in and out of the emptiness, pausing every so often to touch the scarlet ribbon that held her hair back.

She still hadn't decided which side was best. A right handed grip had the obvious problem; her index and middle fingers were missing on her right hand, reducing her ability to draw the string properly. Left handed though was a disaster and the arrow went spinning off to the side, luckily it probably didn't have enough power to puncture anything.

"Darkness be taking his eyes." She hissed, sometimes; despite her loyalty, she really hated Ganondorf.

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

While some people might shun this floor because of how the animals can unpredictably take away their powers, to Diarmuid that danger makes it the perfect place to train ways to deal with just that situation. Since there are several people who he's training now, it's important he makes sure he keeps his own skills that much sharper.

The hissed voice he hears as he enters the floor makes him pause, though, and a short search locates the owner of the voice. He gives the woman and then the evil looking bow she's wielding a look before speaking.

"Either you curse whatever you're hunting or you curse the maker of the bow. Since I see no dead animals, would I be correct to guess the answer is the latter?"

[culbutiri]

Nesir glared at him, remembering to lower her bow at least before answering. She didn't actually want to shoot a random person (though she would be impressed if she could, so far she had hit nothing that she had intended to] You would be being. [She pulled a face] And whoever did be inventing archery, they do be deserving to be being cursed too.

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid doesn't answer right away, startled by the glare and her way of speaking. It is quiet different from what he has heard before, but considering where they are, he shouldn't be surprised.

"Archery is not an easy thing to learn and there is a decided lack of teachers in this place," Diarmuid frowns. "I have a friend who wishes to learn how to use one, but I haven't been able to find anyone willing to teacher since I cannot. It is one weapon I am not skilled at using."

He nods toward the bow, "Your weapon has a very...unique design. Was it a gift?"

[culbutiri]

Well that just made her frown more, she had started to wonder if it would be worth finding someone to teach her. She had been taught the basics in the temple, but that was before she had lost her fingers, and she had never focused on the bow, preferring daggers. But to hear there were no teachers in all the people of this place

"Yes, it did be being." She nodded, smiling. Even if she hated trying to use it the bow itself was, in her eyes beautiful. "Do you be liking it?" He may know nothing about bows but the way he spoke and held himself she thought him a fighter, and someone who could appreciate well crafted weaponry.

[oathshackledbird]

"While I may not know much about bows, I think I would have to be blind not to recognize how well made this one is," Diarmuid gives the bow an appreciative look over as he speaks. It is just a shame, in his mind, that it seems to have such a dark shadow cast over it. He's not sure how, but something feels...wrong about the weapon. However, since its wielder doesn't seem to be bothered by that, Diarmuid doesn't mention it.

"Whoever made it must hold you in great respect to have spent so much time on its creation. However, it strikes me as odd. Usually those so skilled in weapon making are so because they wield the weapon skillfully themselves. Could your friend not have taken the time to train you?"

[culbutiri]

Nesir grinned again, looking at the bow again. It was clear she liked it a lot. She blinked at his words though, she doubted that was really the case. It was more like Ganondorf needed her to be as efficient as possible and he had decided a range weapon was the best way to ensure that.

"He will be." She told him shrugging, "But I did no be thinking it would be being an act of gratitude to be shooting him with his own weapon so I did be thinking I would be practicing first. I did be learning a bit before I did be coming here."

Ganondorf really would not be pleased if she shot him, and she would rather stay in his good books.

[oathshackledbird]

"No, no," Diarmuid shakes his head, laughing. "While good teachers are understanding about mistakes, shooting someone with the bow they made for you is something a bit harder to forgive."

Though, if Diarmuid knew that it was Ganondorf that made the bow for her, he would likely pay her to shoot the man with it.

"Ah, so you are not a complete novice with the weapon? I can see why you would wish to at least try and better your skill on your own then. Especially since everyone fights in their own way even when they use similar weapons. It can be hard and even impossible to change fighting style once learned. The same applies to weapon use."

[culbutiri]

It would take more than money, if Nesir has any virtues loyalty is definitely one of them, despite everything else. "I do be hoping that do no be being true when the fighting style do just be being bad." She grinned, she's mostly joking. She has no doubts that she will get the hang of this eventually.

"You do be sounding like you do be knowing a lot about weapons."

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid smiles, bowing his head slightly, "I don't wish to sound like I am too proud of my skills, but I do know a great deal about weapons. Swords, spears, shields. Duel-wielding is actually a specialty of mine. It is just unfortunate that I don't have most of my weapons available to me here." He lightly touches the swords he is carrying with him--one at his waist and one across his back, "Weapons like these, even when well made, are just film when the glamour is down. That is a lot different than actually having a real weapon."

Which makes him realize that he should talk to Waver and see if between the two of them, they can make a set of swords out of the weapons that he has gathered from his monster hunts. That way, he can be using real weapons instead of film ones.

[culbutiri]

Nesir frowned when he mentioned glamour, the source of most her anger at the moment. But at least weapons could still cut, still do damage even when made of foil.

However it is his earlier words that made her eyes light up, "You do be duel-weilding?" She shifted her cloak so he could see the daggers at her belt, "I do be being much better at daggers than archery, throwing them as well as fighting and did be training in duel wielding. I did be being a warrior acolyte, so I do only still be learning." She didn't mind admitting that, she was still better than most the idiots here and there was no shame in being a student.

[oathshackledbird]

"Better a student who knows there is still much to learn, than an 'expert' who knows nothing and thinks he knows everything," Diarmuid smiles, happy to have found another who duel-wields even if knives are not exactly his area of expertise. He is much more apt at using blades of a longer variety. "I have been fighting for a very long time. Even so, almost daily I learn something new. That is one of the few blessings in this place. So many different people means there is never a shortage of things to learn."

"Are there other weapons that you know besides the bow and your knives?"

[culbutiri]

Nesir nodded, exactly. Unlike some people... Sephiroth... she at least knew she must learn more and therefore improved every day. She liked this mans attitude though.

"No, I did be thinking of learning the sword this year..." If she hadn't ended up here anyways, the warriors hadn't quite been able to work out how to teach a small for her age twelve year old how to weild the large heavy swords that they used, but she thought she probably had the strength now. "I can be fighting with no weapons as well."

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, Sephiroth. Let's not talk about Sephiroth...or maybe they should.

"It sounds like you are quite talented. In that case, I am sure the bow too will cave to your skill in time even if you are unable to find a teacher," Diarmuid falls silent for a moment. Even though he already has several students, if there is someone who he can help teach--especially one who already seems so skilled--he can't help but offer.

"Do you still wish to learn the sword? While I may not be able to help you with the bow, sword is something I can teach."

[culbutiri]

She grinned and looked down, "I do be hoping it will be." She doubted though, she wasn't sure the time they had left was enough time for her to master this stupid weapon.

She blinked at the offer and nodded, "Would you be?" Hopefully she might be better with a sword than a bow and she was always up for leaning more even if it was not a range Weapon like Ganondorf wanted her to learn.

[oathshackledbird]

"While I may be best known for being a warrior, I have always enjoyed teaching people. There is just something about passing on my knowledge to others that I really take pleasure in," Diarmuid takes a moment to look her over, for the first time seeming to notice her missing fingers. For some reason, he thinks that should mean something to him, but he can't remember why.

"Do they hinder you much? Or have you become use to their absence?" The missing digits may slow her ability to learn a new weapon, but then again they might not if she has become used to adapting for them.

[culbutiri]

Nesir looked at her fingers and shrugged, "They seem to be hindering me with the bow, I did no be being this bad before I did be losing them. Mostly though," She shrugged, "It has been being a long time, because I can be dual wielding I did just be switching to my left hand at first but now I can be using both again though my grip do no be being as strong."

He was the first person who had asked about her fingers this whole time, her tone was practical an assessment of her capabilities.

[oathshackledbird]

An assessment had been really all he had been looking for. A good teacher takes into account everything about their student when planning how to teach. It is the only reason he had asked, "Thank you. I did not mean to pry, but if I am going to teach you I wished to be aware of how it might affect the lessons. However, you seem well aware of how to compensate for it."

Diarmuid smiles, "I should not be surprised. You already seem like a quick and capable student. I expect you will take to the swords very well."

[culbutiri]

"You did no be." She shrugged, it was not prying but a valid question if he was going to teach her. "I might be having to play with hand grips, but I should be being alright."

She grinned, "I shall be hoping to no be disappointing." She gave a formal bow, a little awkward with the bow.

[oathshackledbird]

"Somehow, I don't think you will disappoint me," Diarmuid motions to her knives. "I know your purpose coming here was probably to work with the bow, but would you mind showing me your skill with your daggers? It will give me an idea of where we should start with the swords."

In addition to that, seeing how she holds and works with the knives will help him get an idea if he will need to do anything special about the hand grips on the swords he makes for her to use. Though...if she knows someone who can make a bow like the one she is using, perhaps he won't need to make her anything after all...

"Usually I craft swords for those who I am teaching, however you already know a talented weaponsmith," he motions toward the bow. "Will it be necessary for me to do that for you?"

[culbutiri]

Nesir nodded and went to put her bow down carefully, she had indeed been meaning to practice with it but she saw no reason not to pause for a moment to fight with her daggers.

She pulled a face though, "I do no be thinking he will be approving." The point had been for her to learn a range weapon, and she didn't even want to think about actually asking Ganondorf for a Weapon.

She busied herself instead in drawing her daggers.

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid pauses at her words, worry crossing his face, "Is it truly all right if I teach you then? I do not wish to cause strife between you and your friend. Bonds are very important in this place. They are how we survive. If dividing your focus will anger him..."

Of course, if Diarmuid knew it is Ganondorf she would be angering, he would be a lot more willing to see him angered.

[culbutiri]

She wrinkled her nose, a childish gesture. "He do no be being the boss of me." She was doing what he had suggested, didn't mean she couldn't learn more things as well.

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid laughs lightly, recognizing that rebellious gesture, "In that case..." He pulls his two swords free of their sheaths and falls into a relaxed fighting stance. "Come and show me what you can do with those knives."

[culbutiri]

She grinned and flipped her daggers so they were pointed towards Diarmuid, she noted his stance and paused a moment before darting forwards, a flick of daggers towards his wrist. Just testing, wanting to know how he fought and moved before she made a proper attack.

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid shifts slightly to avoid her attack, but doesn't immediately move to make one of his own. He recognizes a feint when he sees one and can't help but grin in approval. So many fighters he's run into in this place seem to forget how important it is to feel out an unknown opponent instead of just charging into things at full tilt.

Needless to say, Diarmuid is quite pleased to see that she isn't going to have to be taught that lesson.

After a moment, he darts in for a few feints of his own, one slash aimed toward her head and the other aimed lower--a test to see how well she splits her attention when multiple attacks are coming at once.