faderift | pew pew MAYHEM

WHO: Kas & Open
WHAT: Someone suggested archery.
WHEN: Today, mid- to afternoon
WHERE: To the left by the stables.
NOTES: Brackets or prose is okay!

Alayre was the one to blame for the idea to pick up archery, although it was a sound idea. Most scouts were proficient in it, and Kas' skills with daggers left a lot to desire - so it wasn't strange that the teen had borrowed a bow and quiver from another scout, setting up a dummy in the open area by the stables and attempting to hit it.

It... wasn't easy. Drawing the bow was a bit of a struggle for a youngster with little muscle to his body, and his aiming was way off. The walls of the fortress saw a lot more arrows than the dummy, but the boy didn't give up. Stubborn as a dwarf, he pulled another arrow, trying to not knock it on his little nubs again. His hand was bleeding a little, sliced on the fletching by holding the grip wrong, but it didn't seem to dissuade him, either.

It wasn't until he had emptied the quiver that the teen sat down where he had stood and sighed dramatically. "This is stupid."

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The boy pauses at that, warring with himself. His tiny pride was fighting with the need to actually hit the damn dummy before his fingers fell off. The fact that his distrust of humans hindered him as well was slowly getting worn down by weird friendliness.

"Um..." Kas glares down at the bow and then up at Max before he shoves the weapon forward towards him. "I'm gonna be a scout. I need to make sure I can fight... so... I guess it isn't for me as much as it's for the other people I'm gonna be with."

It's not easy for him to admit it, and he moves away just as quickly. "I'm not owing you anything, though!"

Maxwell took the bow as it was thrust at him, but he made no move to get closer when Kas pulled back, and he only shook his had at the last shot.

"I'm not asking for anything. I just appreciate a chance to talk shop," he joked, winking one blue eye. Then gesturing to the dummy, he added, "Why don't you gather up your arrows, and we'll get started."

He's not sure he believes that, but the teen does go to gather up his arrows neatly in the quiver. One had broken, so he tosses that to the side to take back to the fletcher later.

"Okay... show me," Kas grumbles, blue eyes meeting blue as he tried to look indifferent about it. At least the guy seemed interested, and he'd ride on that human boredom for a while.

"Alright," Maxwell began, shifting the bow into a familiar grip and reaching over to pull an arrow from Kas' quiver. "You've got the basics down from what I saw, but try and keep a things in mind."

The shaft of the arrow slipped between his fingers, holding it against the bow as he turned and drew.

"Try to bring the arrow back to the same position every time you draw, if you touch the palm of your hand to your mouth, that will help you remember." He demonstrated, then eased the string forward again to show Kas exactly what he meant, pointing to the heel of his palm. "If you do this, you'll know your arrow's in the same position every time and that will help with aiming. Next--"

He drew the string back again, a fluid motion, the heel of his hand brushing the corner of his mouth.

"Watch your elbow, on your bow side." He wagged it gently. "Keep it a little bent, and you won't hit with the string nearly as often. Lastly, don't try to hold the arrow drawn too long. As soon as you see your shot, take it. The longer you wait, the more tired you'll get and the worse your aim will be."

He loosed the arrow and it struck hard, burying into the dummies strawed chest.

He moves a bit closer and pays serious attention for a boy halfway to a tantrum before. Narrowing his eyes at the mention of using the palm, Kas repeats the movement to himself before nodding.

Trying to go over each step pretty much the same, his face brightens as Max hits the dummy hard. Grinning, the teen hurries over to get the arrow, and it's pretty much stuck in there. "That was great!"

Some more tugging finally released the arrow into his grasp, and he runs back again.

"Let me try?"

Maxwell grinned, pleased that the boy was. Stepping back as Kas hurried back to him, he held the bow out.

"Take a breath," he coached easily. "And try to it as fluidly as possible, making it all one motion."

The teen takes the bow and then one arrow, foregoing the pulling from the quiver this time since he didn't want to be distracted by hitting his horns. Trying to follow Maxwell's instructions, he does the palm trick and then pulls back the bow string.

His muscles are a little too underdeveloped to pull it back far, but when he finally lets the arrow fly, it hits the dummy's arm.

Beaming, he turns to the man. "I hit it!"

"Well done!" He refrained from clapping the boy happily on the shoulder, but his smile was wide and bright. "See, all practice. That's all it is."

Kas is doing his very best to not bounce like a kid, but he's so relieved that he isn't a lost cause after all. He could do this. "That hand trick was great!"

He pauses, looking at the bow in his hand and then back to the human. Excitement is still bouncing in his veins, the smile there to stay for now. "What's your name? I'm Kas."

Maxwell chuckled, watching the light move across the boy's face, the happiness so clear and bright. He was so happy to be able to help bring it to him.

"Maxwell." He held out a hand. "A pleasure."

Kas takes the offered hand, giving it a firm shake. Make a bit too firm, but he had to show he's a man, right?

"Never met many humans who would help me like that without any shit hiding behind it, so... yeah. Thanks."

Maxwell took the hard squeeze in stride, and even managed to swallow back another chuckle. Let the boy crow a bit, he'd earned it.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, meaning it honestly. "But from me, you're welcome. And if you want to go over things again, or even just shoot with someone for a bit, feel free to look me up, alright?"

He's definitely moving with a bit more swagger, confidence boosted and fingers itching to try again. If he kept going now, he could only get better. Right?

When Max offers more lessons in the future or just an arrow buddy, Kas doesn't even try to hold back his smile. "I think I'd be okay with that. If you don't get in my way!"

"I'll try to remember to keep back," Maxwell promised with a grin and a nod. "In the meantime, just try to remember and practice what I told you today, and--" he gestured to Kas' bloodied hand, "--maybe have one of the healers get you something for that, or wrap at least. If your hands are hurt, you won't be able to shoot for a while, so take care of them."

The boy glances down at his hand and sighs a little before giving a nod. He should go wrap that up so it didn't get infected. "Alright. Thanks... um... again."

With those words, he grins a little before he proudly walks off, head held high and his bow held in a more confident manner. Maybe some humans weren't so bad, after all!

pew pew MAYHEM

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