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UN: Rubitsune; Audio

Hello. [ The voice is young, likely a child. ] I am hoping to learn how to do archery, but I don't know where I could find an instructor. If anyone knows someone who can teach and doesn't mind teaching a thirteen year old how to use a weapon I would appreciate the information. And just in case anyone wants to complain that a teenager is looking for training in a weapon because you think teens shouldn't fight, I would suggest looking around and realising that we have to defend ourselves, [ She wasn't 'subtweeting' Darin, just people who would have his initial reaction to her knife. Honestly, if he's as good of a smith as he says he is she'll probably ask him to make a bow for someone her size... Maybe. ]

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[There are some unintelligible static-y sounds from Robyn's end since she still hasn't fully figured out how to use her phone, but after about a minute she manages to reply.]

My father taught me how to use a crossbow, so I can teach you what I know, if you like. It's not too different from a bow and arrows.

[Robyn herself is twelve, so she doesn't sound much older.]

Edited 2021-02-12 18:10 (UTC)

[ Ruby perks up at the sound of another young voice. ]

A crossbow might be an even better idea. I am... Small. For my age. [ Talk about something admitted grudgingly. ] While I am strong for my size, being so small might make traditional archery a more distant goal.

I would appreciate it very much if you taught me what you know.

That's alright. Most crossbows are pretty big, but mine is smaller since it was made for me. Maybe you can find one here that suits you.

[She's happy to show anyone how to use a crossbow, especially since she'd have far less freedom to do so back home.]

I know a blacksmith. If he can't make one for me I bet he can show me to someone who can. [ There's a small pause. ] Do blacksmiths make bows and crossbows, or is that something someone else does? I mostly just know about knives and guns, and blacksmithing isn't as common in my world thanks to the industrial revolution.

Crossbows' stocks are made of wood, but they're mostly a lot of metal bits, so a blacksmith has to make those.

We have guns too, where I'm from. But they need gunpowder and muskets aren't good for aiming with, so I'd rather stick with my crossbow. [She says this with no small hint of pride.]

[ Oh no, Ruby sounds a little excited when she replies. ]

That means he'll be able to help! I wouldn't know who else to ask.

That style of gun is very old where I am from, and it's rarely used. But hunters still use crossbows a lot, even if not as much as modern guns are. Crossbows have stood the test of time, so I think you have the right idea of it.

Do they? That's good.

[Robyn is tempted to ask if the hunters from her world still hunt wolves, or if there are any wolves left there at all, but it doesn't seem like the right time to bring it up.]

I can lend you mine for practicing with while you're having one made, if you like.

Yes. Mostly for dear an the like. Hunting is more of a sport in modern day for most people, but both sport and sustenance hunters will use crossbows as suits them. Even though at The Forge we mostly have guns for hunting in the forest, there's a really old man who still uses a normal old bow! He says it's an heirloom, and that his ancestors hunted with it. He says one of them defended a lord with it once!

[ Ruby seems to lack Robyn's social awareness in this situation, simply hurdling right into saying what first comes to mind before addressing the second part of the conversation, this time with some reverie. ]

I would like that a lot. I will follow your instructions to the letter so that I don't hurt it in any way!

[ With the story of the old man and how much his bow means to him, it's really no wonder that she sounds as though she has just been trusted to hold a historically significant object (despite being told it wasn't exactly old), but at least there's the reassurance that she's not going to be throwing it like an infant or anything...! ]

Well, alright. You have to be careful with the trigger, but once you learn how to do that, you get used to it pretty quickly.

...it's nice to hear that people still use bows and arrows in some places, though. Nobody uses them anymore where I'm from.

I'm glad to hear this. I know how to use a gun if I need to, but I think that in a place full of magic it's probably better to use older tools. Magic and technology don't always mix very well. Though, this place may be an exception.

Bows are better for the environment, so I think that they should be the standard for hunting. Buckshot is often made of lead, which then hurts unrelated wildlife, and I think with some animals it means you can't eat them, which means a resource is going to waste. Bows may take more skill to actually kill the animal, but you're not also killing six other animals who decide to eat the metal and then get really sick and get eaten by yet more animals who get sick from the animal that ate the metal.

[ For a kid from a world with no need to hunt to survive, she sure has opinions on hunting... ]

[Well. That's a lot of info that not even Robyn's father would know about.]

I suppose you could get sick from a bullet...especially if it uses gunpowder, too.

Yeah, [ Ruby starts, sounding so very sure of herself, ] lead is a big poison though. It can cause a lot of problems. I once read that once it's your system it never goes! It can cause brain damage, too.

[ From the sounds of it, she is perhaps more horrified at the brain damage than everything else... ]

Anyway. When and where should we meet for lessons?

We can meet at the training grounds, if you like. I already go there sometimes to practice, since they have targets set up. [Even if she really should be working on her shapeshifting magic instead.]

I don't really have anything else to do here right now, so any time is fine.

[ When Ruby replies there's a smile in her voice. ]

Let's meet up in an hour? I'll bring some fruit so we can take a break to eat if we need to.

[ She's not excited to get to spend time with someone of a similar age! No! Who would ever think that! (She is absolutely excited.) ]

Oh! That'll be nice. I'll see you there in an hour, then.

[Well, at least she seems eager to learn.]

See you there!

[ And eager to learn she is. So eager in fact, that she arrives about fifteen minutes early, deciding that she'll just make an excuse and say she arrived early for warm-ups.

A crow happily preens itself on a fence nearby as she does actually do warm-ups. ]

[Robyn soon arrives at the appointed time, carrying her crossbow and some arrows as usual. She's followed by her hunting falcon, Merlyn, who lands on the same fence while eyeing the crow curiously.]

Er...hello. Are you the one I talked to earlier about learning the crossbow? [It was only through audio, so she's not quite sure.]

[ Ruby turns to look at her, then smiles. ]

Yes. That's me. [ She gives a little wave. ] It's nice to meet you.

[ The crow meanwhile edges away from the falcon. He may have more guts than the average crow, but when so near to a predator higher on the food chain he can't help but be a little concerned. ]

Nice to meet you, too.

[Though Robyn has already noticed that Merlyn is currently perched close to the crow.] Merlyn, behave yourself, alright?

[Merlyn lets out a screech and moves further away from the crow. He wasn't planning to eat him!]

Sorry. Merlyn's pretty friendly, but if that's your familiar, I don't want there to be trouble.

If a guy with white hair dressed in red offers, don't take archery tips from him. He's a fucking asshole.

[...Thanks, Nero.]

I can deal with assholes. What matters is that he's good at his craft.

[ She sounds just a liiiiittle amused. ]

Suit yourself. [At least she's been forewarned!]

Training aside, you gonna be okay? Really wish kids would stop getting dragged into this...

I should be. The Forge teaches us how to survive far worse situations than this. We're prepared for the apocalypse if need be. This is far kinder than what we're trained for, so as far as apocalypses go, I think that so long as the local people keep being kind and letting me work and stay at the inn I should have no problems.

I know how to use a knife, in case someone tries to hurt me. But I think that in a group of adults I might be more useful as a ranged fighter once I learn how. I'm probably more equipped for this than most kids.

[ She's just, you know, trying to be reassuring! ]

[What kind of world does she even come from...? Sounds more alarming than reassuring, really, but he seems to accept her explanation.]

Sounds like you know what you're doing. But if you ever need help, just ask.

[ Number of concerned adults: Two. ]

I will. If I can't do something on my own it's a bad idea to just keep smacking my head into a wall. I figure that since we're all here to save our worlds, we'll be more likely to help each other.

Pretty sure your head will thank you if you don't smack it into walls, too.

Oh-- and I'm Nero, by the way. [Probably helps to have a name to attach to a face, if she ever does ask for help.]

It's not a very good pastime. If I want to give myself a headache it's much less idiotic to just go help with the youngest kids. At least then there's purpose to the pain.

I'm- I'm Ruby. [ She'll get used to using that name soon. In order to do her best to cover up her hesitation she puts on an air of politeness that is not totally at odds with her frankness. ] It is a pleasure to meet you.

Likewise. I'll see you around. Good luck with training in the meantime.

[Given that it's Archer, she'll need it. He signs off with a lazy half-salute.]

You can listen to the salty guy above me, as I am a bit of an asshole. But I am also good at archery, so the choice is yours, really.

[ There is an edge of amusement on her voice, a holdover from her reply to the 'salty guy above'. ]

Assuming she is alright with it, I will also be learning how to use crossbows from the first person who offered. Do you have any issues with sharing a student with someone else?

I can handle assholes. Learning is my first priority.

I don't mind sharing. In fact, it might be better for you to learn how to use a crossbow first before you move onto a traditional bow. There's quite a size difference between the two weapons, after all.

Is it unwise to try to learn them at the same time then? [ She sounds genuinely curious about this. ]

I wouldn't say that. The two weapons are rather different. A regular bow will require a lot more strength and might be hard on your body. So you could, technically, practice a crossbow while you rest.

It all depends on how much time you want to put into training weapons.

[ These are some very good points, she thinks. She's strong for her size - you don't thrive in The Forge without hard work both physical and mental - but that may yet be too weak to draw a bow properly to start with.

That said, she was more than willing to fix that. ]

I'm willing to put in as much work as is needed to get good at it. I refuse to be dead weight.

Is there any way I can improve the needed type of strength?

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UN: Rubitsune; Audio

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Sorry I'm late! Brain went wonky for a couple weeks! ---> Action

Sorry this is also late...

Worry not! Sorry I'm late in return, sleep schedule went to hell

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video; un: bluerose

Audio; un: Rubitsune

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un: bladeworks, video

un: Rubitsune, Audio

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