when the straight and narrow gets a little too straight

[ensared]

Who: Gale, OTA
Where: Sports field/archery range
When: October 18
Rating: G
Summary: It's not really socializing, but, hey, she isn't hiding today.

Archery was an important part of Gale's life. Since he'd been a child, his father had taught him, showing him everything from which is the best wood to carve a bow from, how to string it, how to take aim and hit a target, and even how to make and fletch his own arrows so they wouldn't have to buy them. It's cheaper that way, and the Hawthornes never did have the money to spare.

After his father died, Gale had to take on the responsibility of keeping them all alive and fed and under a roof. It was difficult, but with his mother's help, they kept the kids going strong. Vick hardly knew what they'd lost. Posy didn't know their dad at all. The only thing they had left of him besides the honorary - useless - medal was the bow and arrows he and Gale had made together, so of course that was the crutch he leaned on when he needed to relax.

Things at school, even this one, are much calmer and far less stressful than they were at home, but it never occurred to him to stop shooting. That's what the archery club was for. Archery was one of the few things that could help him feel normal, so he was out again at the range, gauging just how far he can shoot accurately. Gale may not have been the best shot ever, but he had the strength for distance, and it showed. Some arrows hit the bullseye; others circled around it in a tight enough circle that he didn't bother trying to correct his aim that much. The further out he shot, however, the looser it got, and that was his focus for today.

If anyone asked how long he'd been out here, Gale would not be able to answer. It was too easy to lose track of time when he's going back and forth from targets to shooting position, or reaching for another arrow. It's a pattern, slow and methodical, easy to sink into and forget the rest of the world.

Comments

[toeverywhere]

"Here." Elizabeth had her way of just appearing, it seemed. She'd been watching Gale for some time patiently- she was nothing if not patient- trying to figure out exactly what he was doing. She wasn't a good shot with a bow and arrow- guns, when she was pressed, were more her thing. But she knew the value of them. That, and there was something that seemed to be relaxing about them. At least, for Gale.

She extended her hand, and a new quiver-full of arrows towards him. "You're running low."

[ensared]

Gale is in the middle of taking a shot, and doesn’t seem to move until he fires. His fingers had twitched at her voice, surprised that he hadn’t heard her approach before now, but that’s the only acknowledgement he gives before turning, gray eyes flicking down to the new quiver. He takes it wordlessly, and looks up to meet the newcomer’s eyes.

“Thanks,” he says simply, setting it aside by his own. Gale is curious how she got so close without being noticed. “You’re into archery, I take it?”

[toeverywhere]

"No," comes the response naturally. "I've done it before, sure, but it's not my style. I try to stay out of violence, truth be told." But again, if it came down to it, a gun. Or, as she had to use once before, a pair of scissors. "I'm better with a gun."

She shrugs and takes a small step forward. "I thought I'd come check this place out. I noticed you were down here and thought I'd watch." That's not creepy at all, Elizabeth. You're not creepy at all. Girl, you still need to learn how to be a normal teenager. Being locked in a tower of a religious cult for your entire life is not exactly the most normal thing ever.

[ensared]

“I try not to attack people with it,” he replies dryly. “It wouldn’t be very useful against someone with a gun.”

Truth be told, if it came down to a fight situation, he’d rather have a gun at his side, as well. It’s faster, has better range, and more power. A bow and arrow is effective, but not ideal.

“I hunted back home,” Gale explains, picking out an arrow and looking it over before nocking it. Pulling back the string, he takes aim and tells her, “I don’t mind if you watch. Just stay quiet while I aim.”

With that, the arrow flies.

[toeverywhere]

"Oh good," is Elizabeth's response, equally as dry. "Glad to know that we're both learning stuff here." She gives him a wink, before settling back against the wall, arms crossed over her chest.

"You did?" She didn't. She'd been isolated. "I'll do my best." She watches him as he takes aim and lets loose the arrow. "It's an extension of your arm- the arrow. The way you fire, I mean."

[ensared]

“Got to keep the family fed somehow,” he replies with a shrug. Most people brush that off easily, not realizing just how vital hunting has been for them since Gale’s father died. He’s never had a problem with that, rather comfortable without discussing it.

He does, however, spare a nod at Liz’s comment. “It should be. That means you know how to use it. How else are you supposed to hit the target?”

They’re the words of his father, echoed from years ago. Gale had always been taught to think of the bow and arrow that way, rather than just a tool. It makes the process more natural, and aiming becomes less of a chore and more like an extension of your awareness.

[toeverywhere]

Oh.

Oh.

Elizabeth had seen those sorts, in Finkton, before she'd left. Poor people, eating shoes to try to fill up their stomach. Perhaps Gale's family had never gotten that far, but it was still awful. Her stomach churned, and she swallowed hard. "I try to give what I can. If your family needs anything..." It was a sensitive topic, and she knew that. But she cared. She had more than enough money thanks to Comstock. Why not give it to people that she knew needed it?

She nods. "Smart. And real good advice. D'you teach anyone around here?"

[ensared]

“My family’s fine,” he says sharply, grabbing another arrow and falling quiet as he focuses on his aim. The last one was a little off; this time, he wants to hit the red, at least. Doesn’t have to be dead center, as long as it’s there.

Once the arrow is loose, Gale lowers his bow and stares out at the target. No one usually gets the implications of what he says. Lying about it isn’t something he likes doing, but it’s better than being the subject of anyone’s pity. Most of the time people assume it’s a joke just from the casual way he says it. But they get by. So what if it isn’t perfect, or luxurious? They have all that they need, and by coming here, Gale is getting even more than that.

Going back to her question, he replies, “Not really, unless you count the archery club. Most of them already know how to shoot, though.”

[toeverywhere]

Liz purses her lips slightly. "Sorry." She didn't want to offend him. Not in a million years. But here she was. Her and her fat mouth.

She keeps quiet as he shoots, as he'd asked. But by the time he's done, she's already got a question. "Would you teach me? If this," she holds up her hand, the last knuckle of her pinky missing, replaced with a thimble, "isn't going to be a problem."

[ensared]

It’s less taking offense than it is not wanting to talk about it, but Gale isn’t offering an explanation. Why bother, when he doesn’t want to talk about it in the first place?

Pausing, he glances at her finger and is instantly curious. They’re not here to exchange stories about the past, though, he tells himself, and it doesn’t matter, anyway. “You don’t use that finger on the string,” he says instead, holding up the bow and pulling the string back in demonstration. “It shouldn’t be a problem, so I can teach you. We’ll just need to get you a bow.”

[toeverywhere]

She won't pry. For now, anyway. Sometimes, she can actually tell when it's time to leave well-enough alone. Booker was like that.

Elizabeth watches, nodding. "Perfect. I've done a little, but I've never been great. But you don't mind, do you? If you do, I won't make you."

[ensared]

“I don’t mind,” he assures her, picking up another arrow to nock it. But instead of taking aim, he offers the bow and arrow to Liz. “Want to give it a shot?”

[toeverywhere]

She reaches out, taking the bow and arrow.

"Just don't laugh. There's a reason I prefer guns if I have to."

[ensared]

“Believe it or not, I was bad at it when I first started, too,” Gale tells her, a note of amusement in his voice. And he has seen a few people in the archery club who aren’t the best at it, either. “I won’t laugh. Just try to hit the target.”

[toeverywhere]

"I don't believe you," Elizabeth said with a smile, coming to stand next to Gale. She readies the arrow, pulling her hand arm back. The string is tight, but she does it anyway, perhaps not as far back as she should have. Squinting, she shuts one eye and looks at the target. "I'm pretty sure you were born with a bow in one hand. I feel bad for your mom."

She looses the arrow, and it falls short.

[ensared]

Gale lets out a snort. Hazelle Hawthorne had said much the same before, back when his father had been boasting of his eldest son’s skill with the bow. He isn’t the greatest, of course, but it’s fair to say he qualifies as above average.

“Okay, first of all,” he begins, giving her a flat look, “don’t squint when you aim, and keep both eyes open. You’ve got two; it won’t hurt to use them. Second of all…” Gale looks at Elizabeth critically, eyeing her stance, body structure, and the bow in her hands. “My bow might be too much for you. You should start smaller.” The corner of his mouth quirks up. “And maybe a little closer to the target.”

[toeverywhere]

Elizabeth looks over her shoulder at him and pouts. She'd spent a lot of time reading about this sort of thing. But reading and doing were two very, very different things.

"You're much larger than me," she confessed. It was, after all, a very glaring fact. "And- hey!" She wrinkles her nose at him, pretending to look aghast. But he was right.

[ensared]

Holding up his hands placatingly, Gale says, “I’m not saying you’re bad, I swear. Everyone has to start closer to the target; it’s normal.” The pout actually makes him smile as he casts a glance to the supply room door. “Give me a minute and I might be able to find a bow you can use.”

[toeverywhere]

"Suuuure you did. Go on. I'll be here." In the meanwhile, Elizabeth was going to notch up another arrow.

[ensared]

With a shrug of one shoulder, he headed on over to the supply room. The bows and arrows were usually kept on the left side wall, unstrung, and Gale took his time picking out the right one for Liz’s size and skill level. A 20 or 30 pound recurve should be more than doable, and he restrung it with ease and picked up a quiver of shorter arrows to match. And, for the sake of having it, he grabbed a compound bow as well before heading back out.

“Okay,” he said, setting the new quiver down next to his own. “Compound or recurve? The compound has a heavier pull, but it’s easier to hold once you get it back and nock the arrow. The recurve is lighter, but you won’t have that help. Your choice.”

[lefthandedgenius]

Lydia isn't out on the sports field for archery.

To be honest, she's not much for most sports, ice skating being a rare exception. But her purpose out on the field is entirely a cerebral one as she holds a tablet in hand and walks around in seemingly random directions. Sometimes she circles, sometimes she reverses course. It appears to be a little haphazard.

[ensared]

Lydia is impossible to ignore, as usual. It isn’t annoying - not exactly, but it is distracting and maybe even a trifle distracting as he tries to focus on his shot. Eventually, Gale finds himself unable to line up his shot and gives into his curiosity, relaxing the bow and pointing the arrow at the ground.

“What are you doing?”

[lefthandedgenius]

She hadn't been paying attention to him; solely focused on the task she'd set to herself. But when Gale calls out in her direction, she lifts her head from her purview of her tablet, her mouth suddenly curving into a smile.

"I'm making a maze." she says. "The plan is to make a maze people have to navigate in order to get to the center, and that's where the dance is going to be. You're going, right?"

[ensared]

“A maze,” he echoes flatly, raising an eyebrow. “You’re going to make people work to get to the dance.”

Not a bad idea, actually. Gale likes it.

“I haven’t thought about it,” he says with a shrug of one shoulder. “I guess I could, if I can make it through your maze.”

[lefthandedgenius]

"Maybe you hadn't noticed," she replies slyly, "But the kids in this school are very clever. And enjoy having their wits tested. You never know where you'll end up in a maze unless you keep your wits about you."

Making an adjustment to her tablet, she notes mildly, "Maybe you need proper incentive."

[ensared]

He snorts. “Are you planning on putting some kind of traps in there, too? I bet the teachers would love that.” Gale actually thinks the students would get a kick out of it, depending on what it is.

“And that would be…?”