[Open Post] "Hooray, Hooray! The First Spring Day/Outdoor frolicking begins today!"

[51stcentry_jack]

It's unusually warm for early spring, and this has Jack feeling a bit restless in a good way. He's headed outside, his compound bow over his shoulder, and is tramping about the grounds, looking for a little adventure, either a fight or a flirtation, whichever comes first

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[caniaskyouaqstn]

Will's going to show up, because he really, really wants to have a look at that bow. He's heading back to the Mansion from the stables, but he stops when he spots Jack and just stands there, observing.

He's never seen a bow like that. Or arrows like that, for that matter.

[51stcentry_jack]

He likely realizes he has an audience and he might show off by firing off another shot, drawing the bow, holding his pose for a few seconds, then letting go the string, launching the arrow.

Lowering the bow, he turns to Will with a smile. "Admiring the view?" he asks, impishly.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Will returns the smile, and being the oblivious boy that he is, the suggestiveness of Jack's comment goes completely over his head.

"I was looking at your bow, actually," he says. "I've never seen one quite like it."

[51stcentry_jack]

"Made it myself: came here a bit unarmed, Man's practically naked if he hasn't the means to defend himself," he says. "So, I rigged up this tackle out of what bits and bobs I could find around here."

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"Could I take a look at it?" Will asks. He is verrrry curious.

[51stcentry_jack]

"By all means," he says, with a hint of very pleased pride, as he hands over the bow for inspection.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Will takes it and tests the draw a few times, paying careful attention to how the different parts of the bow move. "Where did you learn to make something like this?" he asks, clearly impressed.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Learned how during a stint in the army: supplies got low, sometimes you had to make do with what you could find in the field," he says.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Will smiles a bit at that. "I know what that's like." He wasn't in the army, technically, but he has had to lead entire armies that were undermanned and underequipped. "Was this a common type of weapon, where you came from?"

[51stcentry_jack]

"Fairly uncommon, actually," he says. "Let's say weaponry is pretty advanced where I come from."

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"What do you mean by that, exactly?" Will asks. He's interested to know what sort of weapons they had.

[51stcentry_jack]

"We've got weapons that can shoot...beams of light, essentially, strong enough to can stun or kill an enemy, depending on how high you've got it set," he says. "Used to carry a gun that used high-pitched soundwaves that could knock out an attacker."

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Well, that's... interesting. Will has heard of (and seen) guns, but nothing more high tech than that. He actually gapes slightly while he takes that in, then grins and mentally shrugs it off. It's not the weirdest thing he's heard about.

"I'd ask you how that works, but I think it would go right over my head," he admits, then glances meaningfully at Jack's... quiver? Or wherever he happens to be carrying his arrows. "Mind if I take a shot or two?" he asks. He can't just look at a really interesting bow like this and not try it out for himself.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Sure thing: Made plenty of arrows," he says, taking down the quiver and holding it out to him. The bow might look odd, but the arrows are quite ordinary, simple barbed heads on a shaft fitted with fletching at the far end.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"Thanks," Will says, taking the quiver. He nocks an arrow and draws the bow in a quick, obviously well-practised motion. He takes just a moment to adjust his aim. He's been trained to shoot on instinct rather than to make time consuming calculations, and he knows that if he takes too long he'll start to doubt himself and it will mess up his shot.

He shoots, and the arrow hits close to the centre of the target. Not a bullseye, but close. Certainly not a bad shot for someone who's using a completely unfamiliar bow. (One thing about Will: he is an uncannily good archer). He doesn't look back at Jack just yet. He's still staring at the target, with his lips pursed thoughtfully, mentally going over how Jack's bow differs from his own and how he can compensate for it.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Hoo, good shot for your first with this bow," he says, audibly impressed. "Go ahead, take another: I got plenty of arrows."