farsickness | (no subject)

Who: Jon SNow and OTA
Where: The area around Gazin
When: Anytime in January
What: Archery practice and horses
Warnings: Maybe spoilers for later seasons of Game of Thrones

Archery

One thing Jon figured out long ago was that when he can't make sense of what's in his head, what he needs is something to focus on. He had thought that when he arrived here, he would be able to leave Westeros behind and just enjoy this place for awhile. But Westeros keeps following him here.

Nothing can be done about that. All he can do is attempt to make sense of what's in his head. And today he's finding the necessary focus at the center of an archery target.

He's at the edge of the woods, not too far from town but still far enough out that there's no chance of people getting in the way. He props up the target against a tree and begins to practice a skill he'd let slide since leaving Winterfell. Draw. Focus. Release. Draw. Focus. Release.

Horses

It isn't just Jon who needs exercise. The horses he looks after need it too, and by now he's got a system. One day a week, two or three horses at a time, they get a chance to run. Not entirely free, of course. He rides one and leads the others by the reins, and once they reach the open plains outside the town, they break out into a run and are allowed to be the creatures they were born to be, under Jon's direction. Even Jon enjoys it, sitting on a horse, in the countryside, with no reason for doing it other than that he wants to.

Wild card

Find him on his way into or out of town, at the stables, at the tavern, or somewhere else.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There weren't that many archers that she had seen. Coming back from hunting with a few rabbits tied to her belt, Juliel paused to watch Jon's skill. The bow was good quality and strong, fitting for someone of his stature and size. She watched as he hit the target again and again. He was talented enough to be a soldier and certainly gave away that sort of air. His serious features indicated there was something on his mind.

Feeling a bit amused and randomly deciding to tease him, she drew her sapphire bow and fired a shot at the target before he could loose another. When he turned, she smiled at him. "If you are going to look so grim, I might as well make this a competition and give you something to channel that seriousness towards."

He hadn't been expecting someone else to shoot at his target, but mostly only because he hadn't known there was anyone else out here. He misses Ghost, who had been good at alerting him to someone else's presence. The wyvern, even when he's nearby, isn't nearly as good at the same task.

"I haven't had anyone to compete against in awhile."

She had seen the wyvern in passing, and while it gave her pause, it wasn't the same as the dragons that reappeared in Skyrim. This was friendly and domesticated, hardly a threat to match Alduin. So long as it didn't attack her, she wouldn't pay it much mind aside from passing curiosity.

"It is time to change that then. Friendly wager?"

The wyvern, Surmund, seems hardly bothered at all that there's another person there (probably because he's such a friendly creature) and is currently occupied in rooting around in the dirt and fallen leaves in search of...Jon doesn't know what, but he's not causing a problem, so Jon leaves him be.

"What terms do you propose?"

"We could wager coin or we could wager other things. Food? Or simple bragging rights?" It didn't really matter in the end. She wasn't looking to win for winning's sake, but rather to have someone to play with. A bow needed practice and this was the best means.

"Which suit you?"

He doesn't really need coin, or care about bragging rights. What he could use most is company, which makes it easy to know what to suggest.

"Loser buys a round at the tavern?"

"Sounds like a fair bet." She shook out her arms, loosening the muscles before the competition.

"I warn you, I have a thirst."