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?
Hades takes the corrections without complaint or comment, adjusting his posture as bid. He can feel himself twitch initially when Hythlodaeus places his hands on his hips but, well, it's not as though they're unfamiliar with intimacy. It doesn't bother him. Indeed, he even relaxes slightly after a moment.
He gently lets the bowstring go slack and then practises drawing it back again to the correct position.
"...How can you possibly complain about lacking strength when you draw this thing regularly?" he grumbles good-naturedly.
"That is exactly why. Can you not feel how tiring it must get?" Hythlodaeus quips in response, stepping back to admire his work. He nods, reasoning that Hades should have the proper stance down now.
"Well, look at you! A complete natural. Try firing an arrow now."
He smirks faintly and eases the bow's tension once more to accept an arrow from his friend. There is still the matter of actually holding the arrow properly on the string however and he accidentally lets it fall off the string when he tries to nock it.
"Stars above..." he curses softly as he bends to pick it up. At least the quiver won't run out of arrows?
... Somehow, it is terribly endearing to see Hades - always so capable and powerful - fall prey to such rookie clumsiness. As he watches, a mischievous idea strikes Hythlodaeus, and he takes a small step back, placing himself so that Hades will not easily see what he's doing.
"Oh, 'tis normal to struggle with the arrows at first. Take your time, Hades."
... Aaaand he will use the brief pause to take out his shellphone and start filming, as stealthily as he can.
Grumbling under his breath, he straightens and fits the arrow back on to the string. He doesn't realise Hythlodaeus has begun to film him.
"Bah, this is why I preferred the gun when I discovered it. Easy to load, easy to fire."
He draws back the string again and sights along the bow. His fire shield is still in place around the target. Aiming as he would for a gun, he looses the arrow...and it strikes the lower edge of the target.
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no subject
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."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-22 07:59 pm (UTC)"How sweet! You are willing to waste your old age on my antics as well~"
no subject
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."
no subject
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."
no subject
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?"
no subject
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?"
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-24 01:12 pm (UTC)He gently lets the bowstring go slack and then practises drawing it back again to the correct position.
"...How can you possibly complain about lacking strength when you draw this thing regularly?" he grumbles good-naturedly.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-24 03:30 pm (UTC)"Well, look at you! A complete natural. Try firing an arrow now."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-24 04:12 pm (UTC)"Stars above..." he curses softly as he bends to pick it up. At least the quiver won't run out of arrows?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-25 12:31 pm (UTC)"Oh, 'tis normal to struggle with the arrows at first. Take your time, Hades."
... Aaaand he will use the brief pause to take out his shellphone and start filming, as stealthily as he can.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-25 04:48 pm (UTC)"Bah, this is why I preferred the gun when I discovered it. Easy to load, easy to fire."
He draws back the string again and sights along the bow. His fire shield is still in place around the target. Aiming as he would for a gun, he looses the arrow...and it strikes the lower edge of the target.