expiationlogs | Closed; While you studied the blade,

Closed; While you studied the blade,

Who: Aloy, Yukina
Where: Near the Inn
What: Follow up - poorly socialized clone trying out this 'making friends' thing
Warnings: None expected.

[Outside the Inn. Aloy prides herself as an excellent hunter and tracker, but she's not about to complain about an easy destination to find, especially when she's spending time wandering to acclimate herself, or to discover things neither she nor her sister had the opportunity to see before.

She may not be incredibly timely, as Aloy is not someone who lives on a clock, but she'll be there, coming casually strapped with a bow. Right now it's fairly easy to figure out who to approach. All she has to do is look for the girl with the sword, right? When she does,]

Hey.

[She speaks clearly, gives a nod as a way of greeting...and she stops short of what she expects to be accidental stabbing range, just in case.]

Feeling confident today?

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[All things considered, this is the first time Yukina had shown anyone how she was using a sword. She didn't show it to her brother or anyone from her world yet. While Aloy said that she didn't need to impress her, there was a part of her that wanted to. Or at the very least, just show her that she was capable enough of defending herself.

When she arrived at the Inn with her sword in hand, she was not expecting Aloy to come in with a bow.]

Ah, you must be the person I talked to before! It's a pleasure to meet you in person! I wasn't aware that you were prepared already!

[One of these days, Aloy will figure out that it's odd to be casually armed. The excuse for it today is a coincidence that will kick that little can down the road.]

Probably. I'm Aloy - Yukina, right?

[Greetings could be just a little awkward.]

Actually. I'm still a little under-geared, but this might do for now. This is your skill, today.

Yes, that's correct, it's nice to meet you Aloy!

[With that, she looked at the bow once more before looking back at her new friend. This was considered under-geared? She had to wonder just how dangerous her world was...]

But if this is your skill, can I see what you can do?

[An agreeable nod.]

Fair's fair. We can show each other what we can do.

[Aloy will start looking around. Is there even anything like a reasonable target around here?]

Probably won't be as much to see from me, though. Without a moving target, it's mostly just aim and release.

[Looking around the area, she was right. There wasn’t a moving target that she could aim. Although, there wasn’t one option…]

Not unless you want me to carry something around and you aim for it.

[That gets a sudden laugh out of Aloy. All this time, all the ways people have reacted to meeting her, and now...]

I can make that shot. If you trust me.

[She has to check, this just never happens to her.]

You wouldn't let just anyone do that, would you?

No, not really.

[But then again, she has seen a lot of demons fight before. Seeing a human fight with weapons wasn't anything new to her. If anything, she was prepared to get injured.]

...But I think you wouldn't hurt me. You don't seem like someone who would enjoy that.

Heh. No, I wouldn't want to hurt you.

[Maybe a stray water bottle...don't litter, but Aloy will claim this one to offer Yukina. It's something that shouldn't get anyone hurt, and that's the only criteria Aloy needs.]

But it could turn out that I'm all talk. I've known some people who make a lot of noise about a little bit of talent.

Even so, I don't think you would.

[But then again, she had been surrounded by both demons and humans who were rather kind to her. For a moment, she looked around to see if there was anything that could be a target.]

...If you were all talk, I wouldn't have offered.

Appreciate the vote of confidence. In that case, feel free to move as fast as you want, too.

[After a certain point of assurance, Aloy can stop worrying about safety altogether. She does, after all, enjoy some adrenaline-fueled racing with weapons and all.]

[She wasn't going to ignore that. She simply did what she was told and started moving around with a stick. Of course, she wasn't fully expecting to Aloy to get said stick perfectly but it was better than nothing.

Keeping an eye on her friend, she was wondering when she was going to pull the arrow.]

[She waits for a decent distance between them, before drawing the arrow. A deep, steadying breath, before she raises the bow and pulls back. Making out details isn't too hard for her, and a stick might be a narrow target, but...when you want to take out a machine built for combat, you have to get used to small targets, fragile parts tucked behind bulky metal plates.

She doesn't offer a warning before loosing the arrow, erring toward the end of the stick to minimize the chances that if her aim is off, it should at least also miss Yukina's hand.]

[If all else fails, Yukina could heal herself. Not only that, but she was also fully prepared to get injured at some point. With her moving around from one spot to another, she wondered just how strong Aloy's aim was. The moment that she managed to hit the end of said stick, the girl had to finch a little.]

See? You are amazing at the bow, you managed to hit it!

[She doesn't lower the bow until moments after the shot lands. Aloy starts closing the distance again, eying her arrow critically. Like she recited with Rost, survival requires perfection.]

It's gotten me through a few tough spots.

[Once she's close enough, Aloy intends to grasp the end of the stick, and work the arrow free again.]

Shouldn't lose an edge, either. From what I hear, there's still chances to put it to use.

[Which is of interest to Aloy. She might not have embraced the Nora, but she was raised with the idea that hunters should keep threats away from communities.]

[Looking at the stick once more, she could see that she fit it perfectly. While Yukina didn't want to think about what happened should she miss it, it was still nice to see that there was someone here who was a capable fighter.]

Indeed, there is still a chance that something wrong could happen in this world. And that we must always be prepared.

[She said before looking at where she placed her sword.]

...Even for someone like me, who isn't a fighter needs to be ready.

[Aloy follows her glance, as she slips the arrow back into its place with a practiced motion. It's interesting to hear that opinion. So easy to divide people in the world she knows into people who can defend themselves, and everyone else.

She speaks slow, still thinking it over.]

It's a good goal. First part of survival.

[Another moment, and Aloy takes the liberty of starting back toward the sword, continuing to speak with the assumption that Yukina will go along.]

Do you get surprised often?

Depends on what the surprise is. However, if it is about fighting, no.

[She had seen enough bloodshed during her time in demon world. It was no different here.]

Blood isn't what scare me. It's how bad it can get is what surprises me.

It's...probably better if you don't get numb to it.

[She's conflicted. Thinking about the people she's seen who want bloodshed in their lives. Not that she's thinking about her own capacity for it.]

Sounds like you've seen a few things, though.

When you've been kidnapped and been forced to cry, I've been fairly numb to violence.

[For the most part anyway. It doesn't stop her from fearing for the worse when her friends are involved. With a mumble or two, she gave a sigh.]

Although, I'm not worried since I know my friends are strong.

[Aloy straightens, and tries not to look uncomfortable. Imagine trusting that friends are strong enough to handle the challenges ahead, instead of transparently sneaking out on them to go it alone.

She tries to joke.]

But the sword will let you skip the kidnapping part?

I certainly hope so! If I am going to be attacked, I might as well try to learn how to defend myself!

[All the while pointing her sword upward and flashing a small smile.]

The worst that can happen is I get kidnapped again, right?

[Whether that's actually the worst must be subjective, but Aloy manages not to say something along those lines. She can chuckle for a what's the worst that can happen, instead.]

Become more trouble than they're prepared for. That's the best way to go.

Exactly and I think my friends here would agree.

[She said before holding her sword tighter.]

And besides, if I can create some trouble, I think they would be proud of me. If I didn't, I think they would attempt to go after the person who caused me trouble.

I - suppose they would.

[Friends do that, right? Aloy doesn't have a lot of experience with that.]

Is there a problem with that? Seems like a good thing. They have your back.

No, it isn't. I just worry about troubling them sometimes. Compared to them, I'm not a fighter and I would have to depend on others.

[She said with a pause or two.]

...Which is why I'm learning how to fight.

[She eyes her, appraising.]

Is it going well?

I like to think it is. I haven't really engaged in a fight with the monsters here but...

[She said with a small sigh.]

I know that my brother is holding back when he trains me.

[Of all things, that gets her to frown. From her perspective, that's not the right way to go about things. But then, her training experience is harsh.]

That might be okay, for a while. Guess it makes sense for family... But it'll be a problem in the long run.

Which is why I wanted him to train with me but it seems he isn't willing.

[It makes sense but...!]

I'm not going to ask when he is already doing a lot for me.

Edited 2025-04-14 19:46 (UTC)

[A little doubt will flick through her expression, but it's not her place to say. Not really. Maybe this brother really is doing a lot of other things. But she remembers Rost flipping her onto the ground. Hard lessons.

So she makes a suggestion.]

Maybe there's someone else who could push, where he isn't?

Then do you know who would? I think my brother is the only one who trains me.

[And yet, as she raised an eyebrow, she couldn't help but wonder....]

Here? Not sure.

[How many people does she know who's into swords? More than she used to, actually. Allies - friends, she corrects herself.]

Didn't see many people with swords until I left the land I grew up in. Suppose if there's no one, I could rig up a practice staff. Give you some experience facing someone who isn't using the same weapon.

I wouldn't mind; I would love to see what other weapons I can use other than a sword!

[Because at the end of the day, she knew she had to be flexible. She can't always rely on her brother or her friends to help her out at the end of the day.]

I know my other friend uses a whip as a weapon! So I want to see if I can handle a staff too!

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Closed; While you studied the blade,

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rises seasons later goodness I'm so sorry

How dare you. But no seriously, it's all good!

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Hi pretend this isn't late

we're good!

\o

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