Hartley shakes his head, already watching Reuvan with wide-eyed glee, "Literally anything, bro."

--------

"Terry's my favourite; ask anyone," Ace shrugs, "Their appreciation for pyrotechnics is unmatched; they're practically my soulmate. I have to give them all the coolest gadgets first-"

Teddy slings an arm over Ace's shoulders, "Don't let Neri hear you saying things like that, Aconitum."

Ace slaps Teddy's hand away good-naturedly, ignoring him in favour of continuing the conversation he wasn't really having with Cypress, "So, did you try out your new thing?" He raises a suggestive eyebrow only to be met with unimpressed impassivity. "...I'll take that as a resounding no, o-kay, cool, aight, Ted, let's go discuss our battle plans with people who are actually on our team--"



(pardon my probable overuse of italics but also I'm not really sorry and neither is ace lol)

Cypress narrowed his eyes dangerously at the leaving groups backs, his natural arrogance toppling his learned politeness . "I'm glad we know where Blondie wants to distribute her "oodles" of bad luck! Thanks for the tip!" He taunted, one of the Aries kids next to him piped up aswell.

" We're gonna put you down so hard you'll grow a few more gray hairs, Old Man!"


Klover had been talking to Kendra is hushed tones but paused their conversation as the others joined them. Roxanne- although just friendly with Luka a few minutes ago- glared at him as she joined the group. He huffed and went off to his own team meeting-- forgetting about trying to eavesdrop. Alex joined them with a weary little wave.
"Chiron says the game will go on. But we're avoiding this area." Alex eyed the shaggy dog following Ace. He looked like he was barely restraining himself from going to pet it.

Cypress:

Reuvan-

I took one of my arrows (double checking to make sure it wasn't an exploding one that got mixed in) and placed it on the rest. Lowering my bow and hooking it to the string, I pulled it back a few times experimentally. It was a bit easier to draw, however the bow itself was heavier than my last. The strangely shaped wheels rotated as I pulled the string. I raised the bow-- my target was a purple flower about 25 yards away (of course I had to make sure it wasn't a nymph).

"Oh, it has a scope." I remarked outloud a little surprise coloring my voice. Pulling the bow into position and drawing the string I also realized it had a peepsight in the string. It drew smooth, and reaching the end of my own draw, the string stopped. Interesting, it had a limit. It was also remarkably easy to hold the string at the end of its travel.

Eyeing the flower once more, I took a look through the peepsight and into the scope. The little bubble lever inside told me I was tilted just to the left. I adjusted accordingly, aimed at the flower, and let the arrow fly.

It clipped a petal and I made an inquisitive sound. "Fast."

[SHHHHhhHh]

Hartley looks absolutely delighted, "That's sick!!
He takes a half step forward, practically bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, "How's the draw? Is the tension right? How about that scope, d'ya like it?"

-----

Ace tilts his head and grabs the dog by the collar (as if that'd do anything if she wanted to get away), "Yeah sure, she's not my hellhound anyway. Her name's Belladonna."




(l a m e but also I wrote this in class and 4 hours later I have nothing to add lol)

Reuvan takes half a step back. He turns the bow over in his hands slowly, like he's only now really seeing it.

"Everythings fine actually, the draw is perfect, the tension might be a little high actually... The scope is a nice touch. It uh, kinda beats having to aim by eye." he said a little jokingly, light accent coloring his words. His new bow was held lax at his side as he tucked a lock of inky hair behind his ear. An expensive looking crystal earring bobbing along merrily with the movement.

------

"So how about that battle plan huh?" Klover piped up from beside Kendra-- her arms crossed over her chest expectantly. "What did you two and Reuvan cook up for us huh?" She said teasingly, but that died quickly when she realized Reuvan wasn't with them. "Actually, where is he?"

Roxanne responded quickly "He's out on business." she said curtly while inspecting her nails-- what? She could still fight with a broken nail, but that didn't mean she had to have broken nails. Klover furrowed her brow "Whats that supposed to mean?"

Hartley's hands twitch but he manages to refrain from taking another step forward, rocking back on his heels. He eyes the bow, "...too tight, you say? Let me-- Can I just-- Maybe, uh-- hnn words."
Trailing off but continuing to mumble to himself, Hartley shuffles his feet a bit, glancing around for something to do with his hands. After a moment, he picks up the arrow Reuvan had shot, turning it between his fingers contemplatively. He sits at the base of a tree, awkwardly grabbing a fallen twig of about the same dimensions as the arrow. Beginning to absently tap out a well-practiced rhythm against his own thighs, Hartley side-eyes Reuvan while he waits for the other boy to say something.

"Of course, make any changes you deem necessary. " He said, politely taking a seat himself. He crossed his legs and set the bow down infront of Hartley, waiting patiently.

A few moments of silence.

"What were you tapping out?" Reuvan asked quietly but awkwardly, breaking the silence. His eyes wandered across the trees slowly-- focusing on the flower for a few seconds before sliding over to meet Hartley's own brown eyes.



[waiting for you btw Lark, with everyone else]

"It's a uh, it's a--" Hartley bites his tongue in the middle of speaking, cutting himself off with a noise of frustration. He looks faintly embarrassed, though it's not clear if that's because of his apparent inability to articulate what he wants to say or because of the song that's stuck in his head. Twisting a few parts of the bow uncomfortably (though not without purpose), Hartley doesn't look up when he says quietly, "It's an MCR song."


idk what you want from me, man XD
fight me

"Oh." I said flatly, ignoring his frustration and embarrassment. "I ah, I did 'ear a few 'ah their songs at some point....not bad although--- 'bit loud." I hummed a small lick of what I could remember. Silence. I scooted over a little hesitantly just to see what Hartley was doing more clearly, hoping maybe my own relaxed demeanor soothed him a little. He seemed a little bothered-- although I wasn't sure what from. Damn, this sonva****** was moody-- earlier he seemed pretty uppity.... maybe I was being a hypocrite though.