[SE] [Training] whispers in vain

Lena

“Fair,” she acknowledged, mustering more strength in snagging at the arrow after Asta’s attempts met right beneath it. She did the same for him, pulling it out of the wood and handing it over. “I suppose Mittens could always retrieve them,” she hummed, mostly teasing the companion, who snarled as if it was beneath the creature’s dignity. Then it sat on the bridge’s edges and sulked.

Rolling her eyes at the dramatics, she heaved another breath and lodged the arrow back into place. “I’d like to be able to hit one of those though,” gesturing towards the line of targets that hadn’t seen a single threat from her.

Which would ultimately happen again, as she drew this one back and narrowed her eyes – except the arrow flew straight into a portion of bone, veered completely off course, and ricocheted down towards the water.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //

A low hum of his chuckle continues as it wags in the air from the force of lodging itself into the bone bridge, and he flashes Lena a grateful and sharp smile as she collects it for him, dark eyes drifting to the snowball to see it positively sulk off. “Oh I am sure Mittens would rather do anything else.” He winks toward the snowball as if looking out for it, before he’s stepping back to let Lena send the next arrow.

“You are getting closer.” He hums, wondering if perhaps that was good enough if they both were terrible. He has no pointers to give, unfortunately. “Perhaps we should switch places?” Should she agree, the butcher would hand her a new arrow and take her place, nocking the arrow into place before pulling back on the bowstring to let the arrow fly.

This time it whizzes through the air and slams into the target hard enough that it wobbles from where he’d tied it down.

Astaroth

// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //

Lena

“Is that going to help?” She couldn’t resist the bout of laughter – already believing herself quite inept and incapable, but at least they were mildly horrible together. She’d be embarrassed to even be attempting the matter anywhere near the Dragoons; even if she half-wondered if one of them would be willing to marshal in the efforts to give her pointers. Or maybe they'd just kick her out of the guild immediately.

But she switched nonetheless, thanking him for the supplied arrow, before watching his own rally and volley. “Okay – how did you do that?” Marveled and smiling, if a bit sheepish in her impending endeavor, she shook her head, heaving another breath. The replacement armament would hopefully fare better, but she didn’t have high hopes – notching it once more, and opening both eyes this time. Maybe that had been the cause of the prior issues. Instead of firing it below or above the target, as she might’ve thought the air would take it or some other phenomenon, she pinpointed straight for the object.

So when it flew, while it didn’t hit directly upon the sanction, it did enough to ping.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //

“Honestly, I haven’t the faintest idea if it will help.” The butcher admits with a soft laugh, shifting to take Lena’s place and watch in excitement as it stabs into the target, wobbling against the railing. And with Lena’s question, the amusement continues to glimmer in his face as his bright grin twists apologetically. “I simply aimed for mass?” He thinks that’s what he’s done, anyway.

Silencing himself but continuing to let the smile remain, he watches as Lena sends her arrow flying, and hums a sound of accomplishment as the Caretaker does hit the target. “Aha!” He chimes, pleased to see that their practice and work has paid off.

“Well, I shall stop taking up more of your day. Thank you for the company, my dear.” Inclining his head in gratitude, the butcher lets her and Mittens meander on about their day while he cleans up to head home, hopefully a bit more experienced with ranged weaponry.

— FIN

Astaroth

// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //