Afternoon Ray [OPEN Sanctuary Beach]

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif was lost to what was going on down the beach, he had no idea the conversation the two women were having. It did prick his interest, but he wouldn’t let it get under his skin. However if he knew what they were talking about…well he wasn’t sure how he would react to it. But the words Kavala used to describe him were spot on; even he would not be able to negate them. There was a point where Gianne looked over and Serrif offered her a curious look. What were they talking about? Whatever the case Gianne was fully emotionally invested in it; that much was obvious to him.

The targets were taking shape, and Kavala as usual was not going to do a half hearted job. That was one thing he could always count on; she did things right the first time. It was enlightening to him to meet someone who was as invested as he was. But lately it was beginning to look like she was a little over invested. He would keep a close eye on her to make sure she did not stretch herself too thin. That was always a possibility with these unknown magics. There was always a possibility for one to go a little to far and invest a little too much.

He brought up Gianne’s gear and inspected it closely as well, checking the bowstring for any inconsistencies. Looking for worn out areas, or broken threads. These things could indeed cause issues for the user, especially if they broke while at full draw. He ran his fingertips over the string slowly and gently. Feeling the string delicately. He didn’t feel any abnormal wear or tear so in his mind this bow was good to go; so he set it back down on the blanket. This was going to be interesting.

They had an array of weapons here at their disposal. A crossbow, shortbow as well as a longbow. Each had definite advantages as well as drawbacks. He estimated that his by far had the longest range of the three, but it would be an interesting match to see if the crossbow could match him for speed as well as accuracy at range. He had never really witnessed one being used before now. So this was going to be a treat for him. And if he knew anything of Kavala she bought things because they were functional. It would be good to see how one was used; so he could know how to counter one in the field if he ever encountered one.

[Kavala]

Kavala met Gianne's eyes and smiled. It was a warm sincere smile that said volumes about what she was thinking. "Gianne, I've managed to make a mess of any relationship I've ever been in. I've never had anyone love me like a woman deserves to be loved, wholeheartedly and with a focus that's undivided. That man down the beach will do that for you. I know that from knowing him. Don't wait too long. I won't get involved and I'll never tell your secret if you decide it is one. But life here is so fragile, so precious. Tell him how you feel, Gianne and let what is going to happen happen so that you don't look back on your life and regret not speaking up. You are worthy of him and he is worthy of love and that's the way it should be. I won't be involved. But I will speak my mind to you, like this, where he won't hear." She said, smiling, then noting Gianne looking down the beach at Serrif and Serrif staring back, puzzled.


Kavala turned back to the targets she made with Reimancy and added a few more touches, drawing eyes and noses and even jagged toothed grins on each of the targets before she turned back to face where Serrif was. "I'm done here. Let's go rejoin him and see what we can do to destroy them, shall we?" Kavala said, taking a moment to harden the last of the sand and smooth the rock around one of their faces. "They kinda look like Yukmen to me." She added. The stone targets with the hard packed sand faces and cores were not her best work - her home was - but they were better than stuffed straw figures.

"Shall we give them names?" She asked, as she trudged through the sand back towards where Serrif was standing examining all their weapons. Kavala didn't much mind that her crossbow had not the range of the other bows. She'd made targets closer, just for that fact.

As they approached Serrif, she laughed. "I know what you're thinking." She said softly, then gestured at her crossbow. "You know, they are both basically equal in both range and velocity up to ninty feet with the only difference is that the crossbow doesn't hit as hard after thirty feet. It pierces armor though at close range and you don't need to be strong to use one. I like them because once a bolt is loaded and cocked its ready to fire. I like them because they are always ready. You don't have to do much other than point and aim." She said proudly, then gestured at the other bows.

"They take more skill too. I'd rather resreve my skill for knives and unarmed than learning to hit something at distance. Call me lazy, which is what it is, but I enjoy focusing on what I'm good at and using tools that help me with what I'm not." She said, stopping in front of the crossbow and loading a bolt into it.

[Gianne Basete]

Her return smile was a little halfhearted. "Thank you for keeping this between us. I will tell him, I know I will. It just... won't be yet. And you know everyone at the Sanctuary loves you right? You're like a second mom or a sister, depending on who you ask. You'll live a whole lot longer than me so I know you'll find the right man one of these days. He'll be just as stubborn and hard working as you. Gods help us for whenever that duo is created!" Her smile was a lot brighter now, making her eyes crinkle at the corners. "If by some divine luck Serrif and I do strike it up together, I'll treat him like he deserves." The thought of love though made butterflies tumble erratically around in her stomach. Could they come to that? Such a strong emotion? The time to dwell on those fancies though were over. Back to business. Kavala was soon done with their targets. For someone who wasn't used to being around magic yet, Gianne was extremely impressed. To shape the earth seemingly with no effort was a major feat in her eyes. "I'm all for putting holes in them," she said then admitted, "But I've never seen a yukmen before." Apparently though, this was a good rendition of them. Naming them too would add a nice little quirk to the practice. "I'll call the little one Phillip," she mused aloud as they made their way back to Serrif. As Kavala started talking to him she picked up her bow and tested the string, easily drawing back the weight. Maybe it was time to upgrade to something heavier, or even buy that nice composite shortbow she'd seen at the Stained Pelt. It was something to consider, so she filed it away for later. Gianne had been paying attention to the conversation in the back of her mind and she decided to rejoin now. "I like the idea of the ease of a crossbow, but I want to be as far away as possible from someone or something trying to kill me. Best to take it out before it can get it close just in case. Is that cowardly of me?" After all it wasn't like she had any close quarters fighting training. "If you don't mind, I'd like to try out our new little friends first," she added. This would be easier than trying to hit a little mound of sand, plus the targets were closer. Gianne was considerably more confident now in her chances at getting at least a few shots in. With her companions' permission she stepped forward with her shortbow in hand. Don't make a hasty shot. There's no hurry, she reminded herself sternly. Her mouth was set in a rigid line on concentration as she eyed the targets. Might as well aim for the chest to start out with. The bigger the surface area the easier it'd be the hit. Mechanically she drew an arrow from her quiver, rattling the shafts. In one smooth motion practiced time and time again she nocked the arrow, lifted her bow, and pulled the string back with three fingers to anchor at the corner of her mouth. A more practiced archer would notice that her feet were a little too far apart and that she was once again holding her bow too tightly; a hard habit to break. Gianne took a few moments to aim where the target's heart would be if it were living - center of the chest and a little to her right; its left. Feeling she had the arrowhead pointing true, she released the bow. The tight grip she had had on the stock caused an unnoticed swing to the left, and as her arrow hissed through the air toward the target its trajectory was brought to a screeching halt against the left shoulder. It clattered loudly against the stone before dropping to the sand a few yards behind it. Gianne let loose a gusty sigh and dropped her bow to her side, propping her other hand on her hip. "Shyke," she cursed casually.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

“Names, that one can be Joey.” Following the naming conventions set forward by Gianne of giving the standing targets generic yet somewhat endearing names.

“I’ve never used a crossbow before; I’ve never even seen one used at all.” He was interested to see it’s effectiveness as well as accuracy. He guessed at closer ranges it would be much easier to operate. It would be interesting to see if it could fire faster than he could. Accuracy though at range would definitely be different. Serrif wasn’t skilled in close quarters combat yet, he was more of a ranged fighter relying on his longbow.

“I’m like you Gianne, more reliant on distance. I know I need to be more versatile. I have daggers and a gladius but I can’t use them as well as I can my bow.” He admitted as he watched Gianne take a step forward to take a few tries at the targets Kavala had just laid out in the sand. These would be far easier to hit than just mounds of sand; and more realistic as well.

Her stance was right, her feet being a little too far apart wouldn’t strike him in the moment because he was busy watching other things. She had a good anchor point at the corner of her mouth. He would have to see a few more shots before he knew for sure if it was an anchor point or just a habit. But what he did notice was her really stern grip on her bow. Almost seemed like she was afraid it was going to roll out of her hand. Which was understandable because there was an immense amount of pressure when pulling back a bow.

But would he say anything? He didn’t know for sure if he was seeing her normal shooting habits or if it was some nervous tick she had while around them. Sometimes it was hard to tell especially in somewhat social situations like this one. Regardless he would have to see her put a few more relaxed arrows downrange before critiquing her. Maybe she would do the same thing and watch him some. They could all do some learning today; maybe he could take Kavala up on some dagger training. That would certainly make him feel better about any possible fights he could get into.

He smiled as Gianne let out a small curse popping her hand to her hip. “That would be a good hit under normal circumstances.” Serrif said as he reached into his quiver and felt for a standard arrow. He had plenty and well today with these targets he planned to use them. They were perfectly sized and it had been some time since he had good targets to use. In fact he never had targets as good as these.

“Go ahead Kavala.”

He would watch Kavala intently as well. Not that he wanted to critique either of them but he was curious as to the operation of a crossbow. He had never seen one used before now and well he was sure he would see one employed either with or against him sometime in the future.