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RESPITE FALLS - GUARD TRAINING GROUNDS - AFTERNOON
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Usid stands in the Training Grounds, wearing his simple leather jerkin, a stack of simple wooden arrows at his side as he practices his marksmanship, bow held steady, firing shots into the distant archery targets set-up down the range facing away from the sparring arenas.
Gareth makes his way into the training grounds, just trying to spend a bit of time unwinding after his search for Maxime ends for the day. He's been trailing a number of vague leads, but all of them seem to be pointing at her having attached to the caravans, best as he can tell, which might make tracking her a lot harder if she actually decides to leave town. Instead of making his way over to the sparring dummies, though, he heads over to the archery range, just to watch the folks there practice for the moment.
Usid pulls his first arrow, taking a moment to line up the shot, feeling the tension in his bow and letting himself take a moment to take aim, then letting the arrow fly, straight to the center of the target. He picks up a second arrow and lets it fly fast, where it joins its companion on the target. And a third with similar ease.
Gareth scans the people currently in the range and tilts his head when he sees Usid practicing. He hangs back for the moment, just watching, but he's quite impressed by the precision and accuracy Usid's placing his shots into the target.
Usid continues his simple but highly efficient technique, emptying his quiver in short order. As the last arrow flies, he takes a moment to stretch his neck, then goes to retrieve the target. He walks back, spotting Gareth as he returns to the firing line. "One-Eyed Wolf. Gareth, greetings."
Gareth nods and gives Usid a courteous wave as he moves a bit closer to look at the grouping. "Usid, good to see ye as well." He tilts his head a little as he gets a better look at the target, then grins at Usid, "Impressive clusterin'. Sharp as ever, eh? Glad to see ye've been able to keep in shape since arrivin' in town."
Usid bows his head at the compliment to his skill. "Hmph. Feels rusty, but muscles still remember. Too much time spent in meetings. Not enough hunting."
Gareth hums, nodding in agreement. "Aye, muscle memory is a hard thing to forget. A bit o' practice here and there and ye'll be back in top form." He smiles a bit, "Or goin' on a couple o' hunts. Nothin' quite like gettin' out into the field to sharpen up."
Usid hums, grinning. "Yes. Been too long. But Usid shall return to the hunt. Politics is not where I belong."
Gareth 's smile widens. "And when ye do get back to huntin', may yer shots strike true." He tilts his head after a moment, "Hopefully the talks and such haven't been too troublesome lately, though? Ye and the others have been here fer... what, six months now?"
Usid nods, beginning to clean up the target and retrieve his arrows, "Heh. Always troublesome. Six months. Finally think the Saur have been accepted though. New homes being completed. Small problems in mingling, but others can deal with that. Usid has stepped down. Still Chieftain of his tribe... no longer voice for all Saur. Is better this way."
Gareth scratches his chin a bit. "So just a general guide fer yer people now, instead o' the one talkin' in their place, eh? Gives ye a little more freedom and less headaches, aye, and lets the others settle in as they want."
Usid nods, "Saur are less of tribes here. Tragedy brings strong bonds. United us here better than any Whisperer could have." He spits in resentment. "Tribe chieftain means less. And Councilor Velriz shall step up now. Usid will advise if needed. But... not needed now that things are becoming 'normal'."
Gareth chuckles a bit. "I wouldn't dismiss ye as an adviser so easily, Usid. Ye have knowledge the others might still need here and there, goin' forward. But ye've a lot o' freedom now, at least."
Usid pulls out the last of his arrows from the target, returning them to his quiver. "No more meetings at least. Usid will do what he can to help them, but Usid has no desire for more meetings." He sighs, thinking a moment. "Thinking of the world beyond. Many of the Saur still uncertain, but I have grown too curious."
Gareth tilts his head. "Oh? Ye've been gettin' an itch to go travelin' further out beyond Aephix and see the other lands?" He smiles, "I can understand that. There's plenty to see and do out there."
Usid sets the used target down. "Sister Louma once called you a Hunter of bounties. A hunter of others. Usid has skills. Tracking, hunting. Can learn the rest. Perhaps that is how I can see the rest of this world."
Gareth hums quietly. "Aye, that is one way to see the world, even if it's not the most comfortable. There are other ways ye can do the same, without wonderin' if ye'll make enough money to cover what ye need sometimes." He shrugs a little, "Other options are to sign on to help with merchant ships, or figurin' out jobs ye could do here or elsewhere that aren't quite so deadly as bounty huntin'."
Victoria: "Ranged weapons are for boring people. And my girlfriend." The leopard is leaning forward on the fence at the edge of the archery range, grinning toothily at the pair as her two tails swish behind her. She's dressed in her usual near-lack of clothing, just enough to cover the important bits. After all, Annika isn't here right now.
Usid glances over towards the snow leopard, taking a moment to recognize her. "You were the scout that Usid came to before Nyzai's attack, yes?" He hefts his bow. "Usid fights with knives too. Skilled in many weapons. Learning of many more here. Enough to do this... 'merchant ship work' or bounty hunting, surely."
Gareth blinks and looks over at Victoria, then gives her a wave. "Victoria, good to see ye." He chuckles and grins, "Always good to have multiple options, aye. Wider skill sets are good fer coverin' whatever needs doin' at any time."
Victoria swings over the fence, smiling: "You boys looking towards bounty hunting and such again? Or what's on your minds, planning on broad daylight?"
Usid shrugs slightly, watching the cat cautiously. "Usid... has no planning. Thinking. Looking for something he can do in this world that matches Usid's skills. Hunting. Killing... maybe less killing. But no politics."
Gareth nods. "Well, if it's less killin' ye want, bein' a merchant guard would probably fit yer goals nicely. Ye get to travel a lot, and ye spend time defendin' folks rather than killin' folks."
Victoria walks closer to the pair, not even remotely nonplussed about having inserted herself into a conversation that's none of her business. Her tails swish: "Yup, if it's less excitement and probably better pay than this town guard here, could be worth looking into. Me, I never wanted to leave Respite."
Usid tilts his head at Victoria. "Usid has never known anything but what you call the 'Badlands'. Never knew there was more world. Had my fill of killing, though. Would do so, if needed... not desired anymore." He lowers his head a bit in shame.
Gareth hums thoughtfully, idly gazing into the distance as he rubs his chin. "Might have some ideas, if ye want me to give it some thought, Usid. The pay's probably goin' to be pretty good, and it'll let ye explore around the world a good bit, but I'll have to think on it a little first."
Victoria gives Gareth a curious look: "So you're planning on something? I'm pretty sure that's a planning kind of look."
Usid looks back up at Gareth, chuckling. "...Give it some thought, yes. Usid would be most curious to hear the One-Eyed Wolf's plans, when he is ready."
Gareth looks between Usid and Victoria after a second or two, then shrugs. "Somethin' o' a plan, sure. Just... need to figure out all o' the details before anythin' else, and there's another thing I need to take care o' before that."
Victoria smirks: "Just don't get too tangled in multiple 'another things' or you'll never get started. But I suppose if your plan ever needs my kind of expertise..." She leaves that hanging, although the leopard doesn't seem all that serious about it.
Usid crosses his arms and laughs, "What is expertise of this one, hm? Usid caught her unaware when scouting."
Gareth smirks, clearly teasing. "Bein' sneaky when she feels like it, and sharp claws otherwise. When she's with her partner, situational awareness goes out o' the window."
Victoria gives Usid a glare, then shares that glare with Gareth as well: "...I don't! Besides, she hunts with me all the time!" She's not blushing, not quite, but suddenly just a touch defensive.
Usid laughs a bit louder. "A good mate, then. Strong. Solid hunter, yes? The fox. She was wise when the two of us were... perhaps too eager to spill blood."
Gareth nods. "Aye, Annika's a clever one. Creative and crafty on top o' the rest, and a good match fer ye, Victoria." He flashes the leopard a grin, "As fer the idea, well... if ye both don't mind workin' as guards on ships under me flag, I may have some plans fer things goin' forward in the future."
Victoria crosses her arms and just narrowly avoids blushing: "W-well, then. I don't know about working for you." She hums with a smirk: "Besides, the town guard would collapse in a pile of paperwork if I just let Louma and Nesseth take care of it. Gotta have someone around who actually does things."
Usid hums, "Guard upon your ships...? To work for the One-Eyed Wolf, hm? Usid could see this, yes. Would try at least once, anyways."
Gareth shrugs with a smile. "Still workin' out the details, like I said. I'll keep ye posted about things once I take care o' the more pressin' matter on me mind." He nods at Usid, "O' course, if ye find anythin' ye enjoy doin' before then, I won't mind."
Victoria hums, then shrugs: "Reckon we will all see what comes of your plan, sooner or later." She looks at Gareth: "You're not really the type to settle for second-rate anything."
Gareth grins at Victoria's comment. "If all goes like I'm hopin', Respite might wind up a fair bit more prosperous, and more comfortable fer everyone that lives here."
Usid ponders Gareth's words, "Even the Saur, you think? Usid could both explore this world and find a way to aid them further?"
Gareth nods. "Even the Saurs, aye. A well-stocked town grows better, and I'm thinkin' this plan o' mine might help kickstart that fer Respite."
Victoria raises an eyebrow: "Grand plans indeed. Well, not sure if you need a hunter in any of that, but you know where to find me." And there's no way Victoria would miss a chance for a good laugh when this plan inevitably falls on its' face.
Usid nods, "Usid shall wait, to hear out Gareth's plans before coming to a decision on what he is to do. It all seems to be of benefit so far. Usid is also a hunter, and you know where to find me as well."
Gareth nods at both. "I'll keep ye both up to date as things pan out, if they go like I'm hopin'." He looks between Usid and Victoria again, then smiles, "So... I know Usid's here practicin' his archery. Any reason fer ye gracin' us with yer presence, Victoria, or just eavesdroppin' fer fun?"
Victoria shrugs: "Mostly just eavesdropping for fun once I saw you. Was just off my patrol with nothing much to do."
Usid waves down range towards the hay bails and targets, "Usid can always outshoot you if you wish to practice with 'boring bow'."
Victoria smirks: "Thought you'd never ask~."
Gareth looks over at the rack of practice bows and simple arrows then smirks at Victoria. "Sounds like a plan, then. All three o' us, just fer fun?"
Usid shrugs, "Bring all of your barracks, Usid shall outshoot however many you wish, yes."
Victoria sticks her tongue out at Usid: "We will see about that, Big Talk."
Gareth chuckles as he makes his way over to the rack of practice bows and grabs a set of gear for himself and Victoria. "Oh, I've no doubt in me head that Usid can beat us easily. Still, it'll be fun."
Victoria takes the offered gear, mostly managing to hide her uncertainty with weapon she hasn't used in years, into a confident grin: "As I said, we will see..."