Sighing again he holds out a hand, palm facing towards the distant targets. To normal eyes, it seems a flicker of fiery orange passes over the surfaces. Hythlodaeus, however, will know it for a shield against fire.
"That will have to suffice. I presume you aren't going to miss."
At least the ground is just dirt. Any flaming arrows would fizzle upon hitting it.
Hythlodaeus lights up immediately (well, not literally, fortunately).
"Ah, dependable as ever, my friend!" He exclaims, patting Hades on the shoulder. "Whatever would I do without you?"
Jokes aside, Hythlodaeus is quite eager to test the quiver. He slips the bow off his shoulder, taking a better stance for shooting, and with a practiced movement draws an arrow from the quiver and nocks it. It does not ignite - yet, at least, but when he pulls back the bowstring there is a faint glow surrounding the arrow.
The enchantment comes into full power when Hythlodaeus lets the arrow loose: the tip seems to erupt into flame, a fiery stream following the path of the arrow. As it hits the target - bullseye, of course, which Hythlodaeus will deny is anything special, - the flame seems to splash off the shield, but continues to dance around the arrow for a while longer before dissipating.
Hythlodaeus turns to his friend with a happy smile. "Well, I would say that is a success. What do you think, Hades?"
He has to confess: he had been watching Hythlodaeus draw and fire his bow and his gaze had followed the arrow belatedly. He doesn't see the hit but he does see the fire fizzle out - a perfect bullseye as he expected.
"Mm. Your opponents will not know your bow's trait until the arrow is fired. Its only drawback is the limitation to reflecting the season, I suppose."
That brings up a question though... "I wonder if your bow would behave differently in another part of the world."
Hythlodaeus looks thoughtful, but also intrigued. Despite his penchant for slacking off, his work at the Bureau wasn't for nothing.
"That would depend on how the enchantment functions... But I believe that it would indeed behave differently. Otherwise the wielder would not know what to expect of their quiver, were they to travel! Mayhap it senses the surrounding season somehow, reliant on the position of the stars... or composition of ambient aether?"
... Of course, he's just hypothesizing for the fun of it, given that this world's magic works differently to their own. But to Hades it may be worth it to see his friend musing as though he's just recounting some submissions he received.
A discreet glance in the general direction of where they entered. Hades starts to raise his hands again.
"I suppose since we have this space to ourselves until the next bell, some experimentation is in order."
He will introduce some ice aether to mimic the chilly conditions of winter. That would provide the clearest indication whether the bow's arrows are affected.
There's a brief smile at seeing Hades work his magicks, but when isn't Hythlodaeus happy to see that?
"Let us see, then."
He draws the bow again - an even more natural movement than before - and sends another arrow flying. Despite the much colder atmosphere enveloping it now, it still bursts into flame - good thing that the shield is still holding.
Hythlodaeus' form really is eye-catching. He waves a hand and the icy conditions slowly thaw.
"Not a localised phenomenon then. Mayhap a trip to the other leviathans are in order. Although I do not know one that specifically mimics the conditions of spring and autumn."
He wonders if the spring arrow would create a trail of flowers. Or perhaps inspire rapid growth upon impact? That could be a horrible death for the victim if so.
A soft snort. "Perhaps... I have seen a land like that once, you know. A land of rainbows and perpetually clear skies, inhabited by fae folk. I think you would have liked them."
He can think of no better candidate for a land blessed with eternal spring.
He heaves a sigh. "The difference between you and they is that at least you can be reasoned with to a degree. They are the souls of children, reborn as eternal spirits. They never mature, never grow old."
Mischievous ways aside, he feels more pity for them than annoyance.
Hythlodaeus muses on the idea; it sounds innocuous at first, but the implication is grim: that some souls would leave the star in such early years. He glances at his friend, trying to gauge his mood.
"I do wonder how you would be able to deal with my younger self, were I to become a child again."
He lets the bump sway him, rocking back on his heels with an exaggerated sniff.
"I know you best. I know how you think. Who better to keep you on the straight and narrow. Mayhap I could teach you to be a respectable person this time."
"Ah, but would you still enjoy my company as much as you do if I were 'respectable'?" Hythlodaeus quips back. He is more than certain that having someone as serious as himself around would only be detrimental for Hades.
"You've certainly gotten rather more honest over all those years! Before, I would have had to spend much more effort to drag that admission out of you."
He chuckles and gives his friend a calculating look.
"I do wonder if you've acquired other skills as well. Have you learned to use the bow, for example?"
He pinches Hythlodaeus' cheek lightly. His friend can thank himself for this new, more honest Hades. When two parties share aether, it's inevitable that some mark is left behind.
"I did not learn to use the bow, no. I found firearms more reliable. Why? Are you offering for me to have a shot?"
"Indeed I am! I notice you have a habit of slouching, and archery is good for improving your posture. Call it concern for a friend's health."
Where would they be if Hythlodaeus didn't tease Hades at every opportunity? He holds out his bow invitingly - not the quiver yet, not until Hades can get the proper stance down.
Hades huffs but accepts the bow. He has seen plenty of archers at this point - to say nothing of his dim and distant memories of fighting alongside Hythlodaeus. How difficult could it be?
He stands at the line and plants his feet how he remembers Hythlodaeus standing just moments ago. Hooking his fingers against the string, he mimes pulling back an invisible arrow.
Hythlodaeus looks Hades's posture over attentively; there is a degree of seriousness to him that isn't usually there. After all, he does genuinely want his friend to learn and have fun - or at least not do himself an injury.
"Hmm... Not bad. But..."
He steps closer and reaches out to correct Hades's stance: the elbow should be a little higher, the wrist more like this, the torso at a slightly different angle relative to the hips and the back a little straighter. The corrections mean that he has to stand very close to Hades to gauge his stance, but Hythlodaeus does not appear to be embarrassed by that... but when is he ever embarrassed by anything?
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Date: 2025-11-17 01:04 pm (UTC)"... Do you have coin to pay for my burning down the range?"
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Date: 2025-11-17 01:18 pm (UTC)Sighing again he holds out a hand, palm facing towards the distant targets. To normal eyes, it seems a flicker of fiery orange passes over the surfaces. Hythlodaeus, however, will know it for a shield against fire.
"That will have to suffice. I presume you aren't going to miss."
At least the ground is just dirt. Any flaming arrows would fizzle upon hitting it.
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Date: 2025-11-17 02:17 pm (UTC)"Ah, dependable as ever, my friend!" He exclaims, patting Hades on the shoulder. "Whatever would I do without you?"
Jokes aside, Hythlodaeus is quite eager to test the quiver. He slips the bow off his shoulder, taking a better stance for shooting, and with a practiced movement draws an arrow from the quiver and nocks it. It does not ignite - yet, at least, but when he pulls back the bowstring there is a faint glow surrounding the arrow.
The enchantment comes into full power when Hythlodaeus lets the arrow loose: the tip seems to erupt into flame, a fiery stream following the path of the arrow. As it hits the target - bullseye, of course, which Hythlodaeus will deny is anything special, - the flame seems to splash off the shield, but continues to dance around the arrow for a while longer before dissipating.
Hythlodaeus turns to his friend with a happy smile. "Well, I would say that is a success. What do you think, Hades?"
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Date: 2025-11-17 10:01 pm (UTC)"Mm. Your opponents will not know your bow's trait until the arrow is fired. Its only drawback is the limitation to reflecting the season, I suppose."
That brings up a question though... "I wonder if your bow would behave differently in another part of the world."
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Date: 2025-11-18 04:14 pm (UTC)"That would depend on how the enchantment functions... But I believe that it would indeed behave differently. Otherwise the wielder would not know what to expect of their quiver, were they to travel! Mayhap it senses the surrounding season somehow, reliant on the position of the stars... or composition of ambient aether?"
... Of course, he's just hypothesizing for the fun of it, given that this world's magic works differently to their own. But to Hades it may be worth it to see his friend musing as though he's just recounting some submissions he received.
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Date: 2025-11-18 04:38 pm (UTC)"I suppose since we have this space to ourselves until the next bell, some experimentation is in order."
He will introduce some ice aether to mimic the chilly conditions of winter. That would provide the clearest indication whether the bow's arrows are affected.
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Date: 2025-11-20 12:48 pm (UTC)"Let us see, then."
He draws the bow again - an even more natural movement than before - and sends another arrow flying. Despite the much colder atmosphere enveloping it now, it still bursts into flame - good thing that the shield is still holding.
"Ooh, that's one theory out of the way."
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Date: 2025-11-20 02:26 pm (UTC)"Not a localised phenomenon then. Mayhap a trip to the other leviathans are in order. Although I do not know one that specifically mimics the conditions of spring and autumn."
He wonders if the spring arrow would create a trail of flowers. Or perhaps inspire rapid growth upon impact? That could be a horrible death for the victim if so.
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Date: 2025-11-20 04:24 pm (UTC)"Ah, but that would make for a fine adventure, would it not? Searching for the land of eternal springtime!"
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Date: 2025-11-21 02:01 am (UTC)He can think of no better candidate for a land blessed with eternal spring.
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Date: 2025-11-21 09:55 am (UTC)He glances at Hades with a sly smile.
"I could just imagine you grumbling that the sun was too bright in such a land."
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Date: 2025-11-21 04:08 pm (UTC)"Actually I avoided the area as much as I could. The faes' mischief could prove troublesome even for me."
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Date: 2025-11-21 04:23 pm (UTC)"Truly? Now I feel remiss in my own mischief, since I apparently failed to prepare you enough for theirs."
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Date: 2025-11-21 05:09 pm (UTC)Mischievous ways aside, he feels more pity for them than annoyance.
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Date: 2025-11-22 01:10 pm (UTC)Hythlodaeus muses on the idea; it sounds innocuous at first, but the implication is grim: that some souls would leave the star in such early years. He glances at his friend, trying to gauge his mood.
"I do wonder how you would be able to deal with my younger self, were I to become a child again."
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Date: 2025-11-22 04:17 pm (UTC)Thinking of those children does put him in a sombre mood but not enough to spoil their day. He crosses his arms and smiles wryly.
"But if you did somehow regress, I suppose I would have no choice but to care for you. You are my dearest friend after all."
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Date: 2025-11-22 07:59 pm (UTC)"How sweet! You are willing to waste your old age on my antics as well~"
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Date: 2025-11-23 11:02 am (UTC)"I know you best. I know how you think. Who better to keep you on the straight and narrow. Mayhap I could teach you to be a respectable person this time."
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Date: 2025-11-23 11:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-11-23 02:26 pm (UTC)Eventually--
"No, I like you just the way you are. Bothersome personality and all."
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Date: 2025-11-23 02:49 pm (UTC)"You've certainly gotten rather more honest over all those years! Before, I would have had to spend much more effort to drag that admission out of you."
He chuckles and gives his friend a calculating look.
"I do wonder if you've acquired other skills as well. Have you learned to use the bow, for example?"
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Date: 2025-11-23 03:05 pm (UTC)"I did not learn to use the bow, no. I found firearms more reliable. Why? Are you offering for me to have a shot?"
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Date: 2025-11-23 03:16 pm (UTC)Where would they be if Hythlodaeus didn't tease Hades at every opportunity? He holds out his bow invitingly - not the quiver yet, not until Hades can get the proper stance down.
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Date: 2025-11-23 03:27 pm (UTC)He stands at the line and plants his feet how he remembers Hythlodaeus standing just moments ago. Hooking his fingers against the string, he mimes pulling back an invisible arrow.
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Date: 2025-11-24 10:37 am (UTC)"Hmm... Not bad. But..."
He steps closer and reaches out to correct Hades's stance: the elbow should be a little higher, the wrist more like this, the torso at a slightly different angle relative to the hips and the back a little straighter. The corrections mean that he has to stand very close to Hades to gauge his stance, but Hythlodaeus does not appear to be embarrassed by that... but when is he ever embarrassed by anything?
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