In the summer, I remember

[rowancrowned]

WHO: Thranduil, Legolas, anyone good with a bow or who enjoys the wine on offer.
WHAT: ROOTY TOOTY POINT N SHOOTY ARCHERY CONTEST
WHEN: 8th of Bloomingtide, midmorning until sunset.
WHERE: Valley
NOTES: log for a friendly wager! 

The eighth of Bloomingtide began as a chilly morning; not quite cold enough to leave frost on the budding flowers and fresh-sprouted plants in the heights of Skyhold, but nearly, nearly.

By the time the sun was been in the sky for a few hours, most of the early-morning chill had burned off, leaving a day that promised to be nearly too-hot for those who would be stuck in full-plate and in direct sunlight. Thranduil wasn’t expecting any to come clanking down to his little fete, but had none the less secured a spot in the shade. Varric had apparently found him while he was still working on organizing—the target launchers are set neatly in line with everything else. Along the clay pigeon launchers were the standard, stock targets, blindfolds—and on a table off to the side was a few bottles of sweet wine beside loaves of brown bread and hard cheeses.

The contest did not pretend to be anything other than what it was; a chance to meet, and mingle, and possibly show off archery skills. The purses wrested next to the wine and cheese and Thranduil himself. He had found a chair to rest in while waiting for the contestants to arrive, dressed plainer than he had so far allowed himself to be seen. On his fingers, four rings glittered—but his confidence in Legolas was so absolute, he doubted he would lose even one before the days was out.

Comments

Obi-Wan Kenobi OTA

[obi_wanmanshow]

Obi-Wan had never made a strong habit of observing sporting events. Oh, everyone would catch the odd ballgame, when it ran across your eyes, and there were any number of traditional games played by young Jedi, both unofficially, and as a matter of training.

You can't raise children on a life of contemplation alone; the Order required a great deal of its members, but it did not require them to be more than fallible, if extraordinary, organic creatures.

So this was a novelty to him; and, after all, he had been invited. He thought of Thranduil as, if not a potential friend, then a potential ally. And as he'd said before, the Rifters were in all significant ways, likely to be lumped together in the negative. There was no reason not to cultivate friendships here.

Anyways, there was free food. That's the crux of the matter. He settled down, after a brief trip to satisfy his mortal requirements, and watched with some interest, chatting amiably with whomever should come his way.

Re: Obi-Wan Kenobi OTA

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"You know, of all the people I thought would show up for an archery contest ... you were actually on the top of my list."

Bethany stated, folding her arms over her chest, brown eyes bright with amusement and warm, before she walked over to Obi-Wan, sat down next to him, and boldly stole a piece of fruit from his plate.

"How is the competition so far?"

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Oh, really?" He wondered if he struck her as a particularly archery-prone man, "It's quite the novelty, I'll grant you that. They all seem quite skilled."

Everyone here was in good spirits; even the grumpiest mind was begrudgingly pleased with themselves. And why not? The sun was shining, the competition proceeding well and the food and wine flowed freely.

Thranduil's smug flaunting of his rings only heightened the anticipation; among the elves, for humor, and greed for most everyone else.

"I'm no expert, of course. Do you have a favorite?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Not as much archery, but as being around people. Getting a better feel for them." Obi-Wan seemed the very soul of conscientiousness, in that regard. Trying to understand the people, and the customs around him. Bethany rather liked that about him.

She laughed lightly, before coming to take a seat next to him. "Not really - I do not have a horse in this race. But Nathaniel is an archer, and I wish to know about the sport rather than just buying the idea that my friend is the best because he is the only one I know."

[obi_wanmanshow]

"A wise Master Jedi once taught me that life was what mattered, and a Jedi that couldn't understand living people, wasn't long for the Order," He offered her a cup, as she moved to sit; not his own, but another, full with wine, as if he had somehow anticipated her visit, "Nathaniel is..."

He scanned the assembled competitors and picked him out by demeanor. A youngish, thin-looking young man with a pinched look and the cool poise of someone who understands very well the real consequence of a bow's use. Of course, that described many of the people here, competitors and otherwise, but Obi-Wan had a feeling he was guessing correctly. A Jedi always goes with their gut.

"...That one?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Now that sounds like a truly wise man." She smiled softly, taking the cup in hand as she gave him a quiet look, then turned her gaze to the field. Her lips curved up at the corners.

"Yes, that's him. He's very serious about his craft -- I think he'll end up being in the top ten, at the very least. Which isn't too shabby, considering that Varric and Bianca are here." She sipped the cup, looking around with interest, "How did you know it was him, by the by? Jedi senses?"

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Woman, actually," he replied returning the smile over the rim of his own drink, and watched Bethany's Nathaniel with a renewed interest.

Killing, even when only in theory, only for practice, should require skill. Effort. No death should come about through random malice, the clumsy, lifeless discharge of a plasma-bolt. Life so rarely was what it perhaps should have been-- and for a great many good reasons. But, just the same, this was all just so... civilized.

"Hm? Oh, a Jedi never gives up his secrets."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Well, now I know she was smart." Her grin widened, as she turned to watch Nathaniel in turn. There was a slight puff of pride there, for Nathaniel was like a brother to her.

Obi Wan would learn that in Thedas? Battle was glorious, and so was dying for a cause. At least in theory. In practice, Bethany had found, it tended to be a lot messier.

"Really? I would think telling someone you could have sex but not if you liked them would be a major telling point." She murmured, her eyes glinting mischief.

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Oh don't start, with that," This is mutiny! He invited you to sit and here you are, you traitor, "Besides, that isn't a secret, that's a matter of civil record."

Well, it is. That, and the income taxes from the Jedi-subsidized brothels in Coruscant-- though there aren't as many of those as one might think. If an attractive, athletic person wants to find someone with whom to express their biological imperative, it's not usually necessary to pay for the privilege.

Or as Zevran might put it; if you did, your wiles might need work.

"It was mostly a joke, anyways. I'm not-- I haven't, in a long time, I..." Listen to this man sputter. Oh my goodness, "How did we get on this subject? You're a cruel woman, Warden Hawke."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany looked over at him, dimples flashing, before she tipped her head in faint interest. "So it's not only part of the code, but it's a part of civil record that the Jedi are not allowed to have personal relationships?"

She pressed her lips together, thoughtful, before she gave him an arch little smirk. "Oh Master Kenobi ... I would only be cruel if I worked more wilier wiles on you. You have to admit I have been, otherwise, a perfectly well behaved young woman."

Another sip, and then an innocent, "So why so long? Have you liked everyone you've flirted with?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin strolls up to him with a glass of wine in one hand and bread rolled around a piece of cheese in the other. She could have been seen competing, but her stint at archery didn't last very long, not with the talent all around her. At any rate, she seems relaxed and unbothered. This isn't a competition she's invested in, other than as a means to gather.

"Hello again, Obi-Wan. Enjoying yourself so far, I hope?"

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Good afternoon, Miss Ataash," he replies, offering her the seat beside his spot with a gentle flourish, "Very much, thank you. It's not the kind of marksmanship I usually see."

Blaster-bolts and breakneck combat. Well, even a droid could hit a target, when properly armed. There was a reason blasters had overcome other types of projectile weaponry, after all.

"And yourself?"

[gatheringstorm]

Such manners. Korrin grins as she takes the seat with a polite nod. After all that standing around, she's glad to be off her feet for a while. "Better, now that I'm out of the running. It was fun, but I'd rather sit in the shade and watch those of far better skill. You have something like this back home, right? If not bows and arrows, then whatever."

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Oh, blasters are..." He hesitates a moment, his own smile twisting wry, "Not to be compared, I think. For one thing, there's a great deal less skill involved in using one."

He covers the derision gracefully, with a sip of wine and the whoop of the crowd as the latest volleys find their respective marks, or otherwise.

"It's an impressive gathering. Skill is worth respecting, regardless of the source."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin sets down her refreshments momentarily, clapping at the display of skill. She'll get more excited and whoop when it's friends competing, on the lookout for a few particular faces. "Definitely. It reminds me of another gathering not too long ago, pretty much an event where people could challenge others to duels or whatever. Well, except for magic. I was disappointed at that last part, it would've been fun to match my skill with a spirit blade against an opponent with a physical one."

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask you about that. It's very interesting, your blade."

He remembered her spirit blade, a shining thing seemingly made of pure energy. But that was magic, really, and who knew how it worked? The part of him that might have been a corps engineer wondered too, how it'd do against a Jedi weapon.

"I have a... somewhat similar weapon of my own," The part of him that might have been a corps engineer wondered too, how it'd do against a Jedi weapon, "We could try a few rounds by ourselves, of course. If you're up for it."

[gatheringstorm]

Mention of her spirit blade perks her up, as she's always happy to discuss that subject. A small grin forms and she readily nods, responding after another sip. "Oh, absolutely. I'm always interested in comparing weapons and battle forms. At some point, we'll probably be assigned together and I've learned it's best to hash such things out ahead of time rather than on the battlefield."

[obi_wanmanshow]

"I've had a difficult time finding a suitable sparring partner," he admits, ruefully, turning away from the archery to offer a nod for her enthusiasm, "If it works out, perhaps we can make it a standing date."

After all, Korrin had strength and reach on him; Obi-Wan liked a challenge. How else can we learn and grow?

"When are you next free?"

[gatheringstorm]

"How about tomorrow? Any time that isn't the crack of dawn is usually fine with me. If the standard training area is too crowded, there are plenty of other places to choose from. It's not as though we have to stick to Skyhold proper, either; there's a grove just outside and sometimes it aren't even a couple being obnoxious at each other."

She glances back at a cheer from the crowd, taking note of who provoked their response, then flashes a smile back at him. "I wouldn't mind a standing date at all, if we're compatible. There aren't many Knight-Enchanters to spar with in Skyhold and I know that's not what you are, exactly, but still...close enough."

[rowancrowned]

‘Potential ally’ indeed. Thranduil had certainly been left curious enough to pursue, sliding up to the jedi’s perch with two cool glasses of wine, one in each of his hands. The glasses were wet with moisture, the heat making the drink sweat. Thranduil was uncannily flawless in appearance despite the tacky weather, but had a glass himself and drank from it with a carelessness perhaps better suited to water. He sighed when he sat, the only indication that poise and manners were keeping him tranquil despite the heat and general fuss of organizing something like this.

“Good afternoon.” The most difficult part of speaking in common was not to think about it—or so he had found. Some things translated oddly, despite intent, but literacy was also helping turn it into less of a task.

[obi_wanmanshow]

Obi-Wan smiled for him, grateful for the coolness of the drink, and sipped at it while Thranduil arranged himself comfortably alongside him.

"Good afternoon," His reply was quiet, warm enough, "It's quite a gathering you've put together, here. My compliments."

mmm we're going to pretend i didnt lose this

[rowancrowned]

"It is just a little thing." He makes an elegant little gesture. At the very least, it ought to seem effortless. But even accounting for that, it had really been fairly simple. Arrange for food and volunteers would flock to help.

"And how have you been as of late? Well, I hope."

same

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Quite well, thank you. I'm still getting used to the..."

The technological backwardsness of it all. The magic. The petty bigotry. The remarkable natural beauty, and the courage and inner strength of Skyhold's people too, to be sure.

He gives Thranduil an expansive gesture, to include all of it.

"It's a unique problem, our presence here. And yourself? This is the first opportunity I've had to meet your son, he seems quite skilled."

[rowancrowned]

He understands. Different circumstances have lead to the same conclusion. At least Legolas is here-- a comfort, despite all the strangeness. It is a flash of the utterly mundane to see Legolas shooting, confident and a bright spot wherever he is on the field.

Thranduil smiles. "He is. I am proud of him."

He turns away from the sight of his son, and: "You will not be competing?"

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Jedi are forbidden to gamble, or compete for prizes-- on our own behalf, at least," he offered, honestly enough, "Admittedly, I've never held a bow in my life. I'm afraid any competition would be extremely one-sided."