[OPEN]

[noble_son]

Who: Nathaniel & YOU
Where: In the grounds
When: Far too early in the morning (4am - 6am), April 1st
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Nathaniel finds his way outside with a rudimentary archery target and a couple of lanterns. In the dark.

The Story:

He found it chilly when he stepped outdoors, but not enough to make him shiver. The cool air prickled through his clothing and nipped at his fingers for a few minutes before the mild exertion of walking warmed his blood enough to drive it off.

Carrying a large, round archery target under one arm and two lanterns in his hand, he moved far enough from the mansion to not be too much at risk of hitting anyone with a stray arrow (though close enough to be seen should someone peek out of the door or glance through a window) and carefully hung the target on the lowest bough of a tree. Beneath it and slightly behind, he set one lantern, retreating with the other and putting it down by his feet some three hundred yards away from his target.

THUNK

The first arrow hit with a satisfying sound and swung the target back, making the tree branch bob up and down.

He could be found there for the next couple of hours, long after the sky began to turn light and the lanterns became little more than ornaments. He paused briefly to turn them off when they were no longer needed, setting them together not far from where he stood. Almost anyone venturing near would find themselves easily spotted, the bow in his hand lowered and a small nod given to allow them to pass without danger.

[while Nathaniel is not overtly affected by the event in this post, I welcome anyone who is :D]

Comments

[noble_son]

"Or a different world entirely," Nathaniel muttered, mostly for himself. No offence was taken, though, and his expression instantly cleared at the offer.

"Ah? I'd be honoured."

Of all the technology he had seen in this place, this had to be one that interested him more than most. He couldn't think of any archer from Thedas who wouldn't jump at the chance of trying a bow that looked like that.

Oh god all my terminology is going to be wrong lol.

[bowsniper]

Or that too, which was more likely, but Clint didn't say anything, but stepped closer and offered up his bow. He let Nathaniel take the bow and look it over. "How long have you been shooting?"

That's okay I know nothing about archery :v

[noble_son]

"Since my early twenties."

He takes the bow, weighting it in one hand. It feels.. strange, if he's honest. Nathaniel rubs his thumb along the material, brow furrowing in a faint frown.

"What is this made of?"

/makes things up

[bowsniper]

Clint nods watching as the other archer inspects the bow.

"It's mostly wood and aluminum, which is a type of metal." Its probably a lot lighter than he is used to.

"So, how long have you been here? In this place, not out here shooting."

Yeaaaaaaah \o/

[noble_son]

"Aluminium? I've never heard of such a metal." He says the word with care, like it's foreign, but takes a moment to examine the metal sections of the bow. "It's light. A bow made of metal in Thedas would be impossible to use."

Not to mention impossible to draw. He offers his own bow to Clint.

"This is ancestral heartwood. It belonged to my grandfather."

[bowsniper]

Clint nods. "Its a light metal, use specifically for things like this, or buildings or forms of transportation."

Clint takes the bow when it's handed to him, examining it. "Its a beautiful bow. I have some wooden bows back home too, none look like this though. I don't think we have ancestral heartwood in my world. It's study."

[noble_son]

"It should be. We pass bows down for generations, when they're well made." The thought of turning his back makes his neck itch, but he turns towards the target and draws the string of Clint's bow back without an arrow nocked against it.

It's so easy to draw that he almost drops it.

"By Andraste," he curses quietly, easing the bow slack again. "It feels strange."

[bowsniper]

Clint lets out a quiet laugh as Nathaniel tries the string. He can imagine it's entirely different that using the bow Clint is currently holding. "Can I try this out?" He wouldn't be surprised if he was told no, people can be protective of their weapons, especially one that is passed down from family, but he has to ask because he's itching to notch an arrow in this and try it out. Some people feel out about cars or computers, Clint Barton geeks out about archery and bows.

[noble_son]

It draws so easily compared to his own that he can't quite believe it holds any level of effectiveness at all. He lowers it to examine it again, giving a small double take to the question.

"If you would return the favour," he replies after a moment of thought. He draws an arrow from his own quiver and offers it to the other archer - it hasn't gone unnoticed that their ammunition differs considerably.