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Post by Justitia on Jun 20, 2016 8:50:55 GMT
 ...if she was correct, this was...
...yes, she was correct this time. This was what she had been looking for... one of the training rooms, although perhaps it was a bit larger than what one would expect for a room--- a training area, then? There was a lingering smell of sweat, the sound of punching bags being shook, of grunts of exertion as certain people heaved weights, courses that were meant to practice agility, shooting ranges, the smell of gunpowder and the sound of guns--- they were practical weaponry, Julia surmised, but she felt they did not exactly fit her--- and that was just fine. There were other people here, too, who relied more on weapons of old. She could hear it... the thwip, the tchak, of an arrow hitting its mark. Bull's eye.
She approached the archer. Perhaps, in this modern age, an archer was outdated--- and yet at the same time there were people whose formidable strength allowed them to use archaic arms and still be deadly--- sometimes even overwhelming. Appearances can be deceiving--- but Julia's eyes had no sight to be fooled. Even if the shape of the woman wielding the bow was lithe and small, she could feel the strength within its sinews, even from a distance. Breath and heartbeat were more efficient than any human, grace permeating every movement. She was told she would be here. She thought she would introduce herself--- her famed temper notwithstanding--- and perhaps, if she could get a word in, ask to learn... and maybe ask her of this group she had heard she was forming.
When she was close enough, she spoke. "Milady Artemis." she began, simply. "I am the current Justitia. I am honored to make your acquaintance." She could only hope the fickle goddess remembered her office.
"If you would allow it... perhaps you could teach me?"
artemis
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Post by artemis on Jun 21, 2016 0:43:57 GMT
 She speaks of Justitia as if it should mean something to her. In fact, it does not. She barely knew even a half of her blood relatives.
Artemis doesn't think when she's practicing her archery. If it could even be called that. She's moved beyond neural memory and its mortal failings. She is intention. She is a barely restrained strength. Artemis does not give any indication that she has heard Justitia, not until she wants to. Her last arrowhead pierces the center of her second-to-last, splitting it perfectly along the core.
She turns around, finally. Artemis inspects her carefully, notes the hands for callouses. She doesn't find the right ones. She doesn't mind beginners, but this woman is not even a beginner.
"You should fight according to your own strengths." Artemis turns around. She refuses to accept students who have not tasted the bitterness of failing. "Or you should ask more specifically."
Archery is not her only skill.
Justitia
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Post by Justitia on Jun 29, 2016 9:38:18 GMT
It was most likely, from the way the lady Artemis responded, that the name of her office did not ring a bell for the ancient goddess.
She felt a slight pang of sadness in this, but she reminded herself that it was all too possible--- the lady Artemis was known for being... distanced from her family. The lady Themis and the lady Fortuna and the lady Nemesis were not exactly close relatives, as well.
"It is... true that my expertise does not lie in ranged weapons." she admitted. "...still, learning it may help me be more... effective." She cannot always be fast enough to close the distance, at least from what she had observed. There may come a moment... where her weapon must precede her.
Perhaps it was impudent to ask the deity of archery to be her teacher--- but she wished to learn from the best.
With a slight bow she excused herself temporarily, taking a bunch of javelins from one of the room's shelves. "I would like to learn how to throw these." she indicated. They were the closest thing to what she wished to learn to throw.
The Initiative did not have throwing swords lying around.
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Post by artemis on Jul 2, 2016 12:36:10 GMT
Artemis bristles with real offense. Archery and spear throwing are not among her powers, but skills that she had honed over thousands of years. She can take pride in that. Even as the powers of the Olympians weaken, she still has an ability to claim has never dulled.
"Archery and spear-throwing should not be a mere accessory to your arsenal. You should find a hobbyist if that is your intention." She doesn't mince words. "If your heart is not in it, then ranged combat is little more than mere distraction. You should work to improve your current skills. Do not come to me to learn the spear simply because you imagine yourself a peerless master of the sword or shield. I can assure you, you are not."
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Jul 11, 2016 12:47:26 GMT
Post by Justitia on Jul 11, 2016 12:47:26 GMT
The Olympian was offended, that was easy to see--- well, for Julia's case, see might not be the right word, but she did not need the increased acuity to know the feelings that clearly painted the huntress's words. She took a moment to deliberate on what was said, and decided to forge on, regardless.
"It is true that I am far from being a master in my chosen path of combat." she concedes. "Still, there are, I believe, moments when this path proves lacking, not because of my lack of expertise, but because of the very limits of this path." she elaborates. "This is why I wish to learn to fight from a distance."
She bows. Perhaps she has awakened the wrath of a goddess. Still, she merely wishes to try, to learn.
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Jul 14, 2016 20:00:06 GMT
Post by artemis on Jul 14, 2016 20:00:06 GMT
Well, she's not wrong. Artemis still has a severe hole in her hand-to-hand combat skills that has yet to be filled. After ten thousand years. Artemis is practical enough to know that she should improve those skills, but there was something unsavory about engaging in a skill where she would only be mediocre.
She should give the woman some due credit.
Artemis honors her sincerity and switches the target with a clean one with the touch of a button. She takes a single arrow from her quiver, slower than she's used to. She notches it plainly and without flourish. She shoots the new target dead center.
"Now do that a thousand times if you want further instruction. Two thousand times, if you wish to avoid embarrassment. There are no secrets, only practice. Spear-throwing is easier. I will only instruct you then."
Obviously, she is neither the most patient nor the most hands-on teacher.
Justitia |
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Post by Justitia on Jul 21, 2016 9:15:17 GMT
She listens as she slows down her actions--- she feels the air that trembles from her movements, from the bow, from the arrow. She strives to remember every detail that she could gather, and there were many details her senses provided her with.
"I am most grateful!" she exclaims, bowing. She immediately gets to work.
...of course, learning archery by oneself is easier said than done. She is lacking pointers that most beginners get, too. Still, she has that memory, of the goddess of the hunt shooting, if in a slower fashion--- actually, it being slower helps. She gets her own bow and her own set of arrows from the practice rack, and struggles to capture that stance that she was shown. She puts the arrow into the bowstring, fumbles a bit, steadies her form. She shoots.
It falters even before reaching the target.
Still, there was a chance, a chance that the huntress would consider her, and this is just the first. She continues. She tries again. She tries to discern what could have gone wrong. She calculates the difference in their bodies, in their frames, in their natures--- for while she was given boons, in the end she was still just human. She reconfigures. She shoots again. It fails again.
She repeats this faithfully. She counts at the back of her head, although... she would at least like to be a bit better before she speaks again, even if that would mean exceeding the thousand or two thousand-mark... although that in itself would take a while, or even more than that. She only has a human's stamina. Perhaps this endeavor is really presumptuous--- but she had the benefit of the Olympian's form.
She smiles to herself, and repeats her process. The arrow falters again.
[OC: Shall we timeskip or something? Julia will probably do as she says, haha.]
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Jul 27, 2016 14:15:43 GMT
Post by artemis on Jul 27, 2016 14:15:43 GMT
Artemis is a woman of her word. She had sent a messenger to Justitia, telling her to meet her outside of the compound.
In the open field, she had gathered an army of about a hundred rabbits. They were all tawny brown in color, except for a single white rabbit.
The goddess hears Justitia before she sees her. She hands her a single spear, a plain wooden thing. It would not cut through the air as efficiently, but that was fine.
"When I finish speaking, the rabbits will scamper in all directions. You are to hit the single white rabbit. Not any other rabbit. I hope that you have practiced well. Two thousand arrows was the conservative estimate."
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