driftfleet | 008 || Video

Who: Leliana
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Planetside
When: Now

[Leliana decided to make this with a purpose and an idea in mind. When the feed turns on, she can be found wearing some light armor and gloves, holding a bow in her hands.]

It has come to my attention that perhaps my expertise with a bow and other weapons might be useful, should the need to defend ourselves ever arise again. I reside aboard the Blue Fish as one of her security officers and I believe, by extension, it is my duty to not only defend the ship, but to make sure her inhabitants and those of other ships can defend themselves properly.

Should anyone with inexperience with knives or bows wish it, I am willing to lend my services. I extend this particularly to the women aboard the fleet, purely because it has come to my attention there are some who do not find base means of defense accessible to them.

[Lookin' at you, Robb Stark.]

I do have some experience with a sword and shield, but I find myself willing to leave that in Riona Cousland's expert hands and I am sure she would be more than happy to lend tutelage in that realm of expertise should anyone ask her of it directly.

[She clears her throat a bit.]

There is a small matter of where I might find a suitable place to teach, but I will come to that when a decent interest is shown. Thank you, for your time, and I do hope others who feel eager to learn will come forward soon.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Given her difficulty at perfecting her aim (or even hitting the target), Leliana's message and offer comes at the perfect time. The raider attack had only helped her realize that she needed a means to protect herself.

She didn't want to be helpless anymore.]

I have been trying to learn archery, but I fear I'm rather hopeless. [A beat.] Could you help me learn to defend myself as well?

I can do both - archery and self defense. Where are you having difficulty with them?

[Perhaps giving her a starting point of what to help her work on would be good.]

My aim is non existent. [She would call it "weak", but that would be generous.] Ladies in my land don't hunt and are expected to be demure and gentle. I am starting at the beginning.

I believe you saw me as well when the raiders attacked. I don't know how to fend off men like that, if they try to take me from the ship.

Ah. From the beginning it is. We can start with just a bow then - no arrows. I want to see you get used to holding one and using it. The last thing you'd want is to injure yourself.

I tried something similar to strengthen my arm.

If we are not using arrows, we could practice in the cargo bay?

A good suggestion. Do you have the free time? I can meet you when I've traded off patrols with our other officer.

I do. I finished with my chores for the day.

[Other officer.]

You mean Robb?

Yes, exactly him.

[She may or may not have researched everyone who resided aboard the Blue Fish and... may or may not know that the two are close and/or in a relationship.

Hey, she wasn't the Inquisition's spymaster and the Left Hand of the Divine for nothing, alright.]

You're welcome to share with him what I teach you, if you like.

[If only because she's excited to prove to him that women are more than capable of such things as warfare.]

He had been teaching me archery, but his skills...he is better with a sword than a bow.

[They were always have some difficulties. Talking to Robb didn't seem possible at the moment.]

I should like this to be simply for me.

[Improving herself and learning to be self reliant wasn't something she could share, it was in her heart.]

[She'd been about to cheekily suggest teaching him Archery as well, but she understands Jeyne's point of view.]

I can do that.

[She gives Jeyne a warm smile.]

Well then. We'll have to meet sooner rather than later, no? I want to see you improve.

It shouldn't take me long to reach the cargo bay. I've finished in the kitchen.

[She would need to fetch her bow from her room, but it wouldn't make for a large delay.]

Shall we meet there in a few minutes?

I will be here there.

[Ready as ever, of course. She'll already be there waiting when Jeyne arrives.]

[Jeyne doesn't take too long to reach the cargo bay, carrying her bow in her arms. It rested awkwardly against her, still unadjusted to its weight.]

My lady? Where do we begin?

[Leliana starts at the sound of her voice, a radiant smile crossing her features.]

You've already taken the first step - having a bow. Now, we start with helping you become comfortable holding it.

[Leliana gestures for her to follow to the far side of the cargo bay, away from the entrance on the off chance someone came there in need of something.]

We want to start building muscle in your arm to make you comfortable holding the bow itself. For now I want to see how you hold it, how you pull the string back and how you look doing so. That can tell a lot about where I need to improve your skills.

[She nodded, lifting the bow as Robb had showed her before. She drew back the string, trying to keep her arm steady, though it shook has it had before. The muscles not nearly strong enough to hold the position for long.

It was at least better than a complete novice. She had a long way to go, but it was a start.]

Like this?

Relax your shoulders. The bow should be an extension of you.

[She moves in, tapping her shoulder as she adjusts her string arm to bend properly.]

It will feel heavy right now but you'll become accustomed in time.

[She lifts her own bow, demonstrating. Then she takes an arrow and shoots it perfectly into the nearest target.]

It will take time but I want to make it so you are not only able to hit your target but a moving target and while you top might have to also move. I had many years of practice, starting from when I was sixteen. I did not shoot an animal or person until much later.

[She follows the guidance, trying to shrug away the tension in her shoulders.]

I have been attempting to strengthen my arms. Did you do anything else to do so?

[She would continue with her bow regardless, now at least aware of the proper stance.

Jeyne looked to her with amazement.]

You can strike moving targets?

Oh, honestly not really anything besides practicing. Where I grew up - it was more accepted to be ladylike and proper, though women were allowed to hunt and the like. You'll come to it on your own if you just keep at it. Now that you have the posture, for now, I'm curious what you'll be like with an arrow.

[She has arrows with blunted tips available, so that they won't be as dangerous or sharp, and is ready to show Jeyne how it's done whenever she was ready.]

It was the same in my world. Ladies could hunt, but most didn't because of the expectation to be proper. We simply never learned. [She smiled shyly.] I would prefer to learn and have some means to protect myself rather than rely on others. In this place, it seems necessary.

[She hesitates, but holds out her hand for the arrow.]

Is there anything I should know about aiming?

Hmm. Don't point it at yourself or other people? The ones on your side, anyway.

[She laughs a bit, moving beside Jeyne to set up her posture again once she's given an arrow.]

[She laughs, caught off guard by the joke.]

Invaluable advice.

[She takes a small breath and draws back the bow as she was taught. A moment and she releases the arrow, watching as it suddenly strikes the target.]

I hit it!

Good!

[Leliana gestures in front of them, handing her another arrow.]

Again.

[She repeats the shot, hitting closer to the center once more.]

You are a clever teacher.

[Robb hadn't helped her this much.]

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