MINGLE: Hunting

[championofsnark]

WHO: Marian Hawke and Co.
WHERE: Dojo training, on way to hunt, hunting, post-hunt, meal!
WHEN: November 10-12, the 12th is a meal!
OPEN TO: Everyone!
WARNINGS: Probably language and some expected violence against animals



TRAINING AT THE DOJO

This can be any time. Hawke offered people lessons on how to shoot arrows, and Danny is letting them use the targets outside the dojo. She has a bow that she's willing to let people borrow and learn how to use, and she's there almost every day in case someone shows up. Anyone who wants to learn can ask her, or they can also learn how to make arrows. No one is required to go on the hunt if all they wanted to do was learn!


HEADING OUT TO HUNT

Hawke has everyone meet her early in the morning and recommends they bring weapons they have, either personally or from the group stash. She's bringing the bows and a large stash of arrows she's been working on since she got there. They are warned there will be blood and to be ready to walk a bit too. She assures everyone if they feel squeamish and want to go back at any point, that's fine. After those warnings are given, she cheerfully grins and shouts off we go! They'll be trekking through the grasslands toward groffles.

They will see kirin and antelope dogs but not be encouraged to shoot them. But if people want to take a moment to observe them, they can!


TAKING DOWN A GROFFLE

The groffles are giant but generally fairly docile. They are the size of a bison with wide, moose-like antlers and tough, protective plates down its back. So it's necessary to approach them carefully even if they aren't likely to attack first. There are two options of attack in this hunt. One is through arrows or projectiles from a reasonable distance that requires aim, and the other is to try to sneak up by it and swipe directly with a blade. Or two people or more can get together to startle it with a projectile right into waiting blades. Hawke will recommend the latter if they manage to pick one out.

These are herd animals so it is possible to spook them, and cause a lot of the big animals to stampede toward someone accidentally. Or you can successfully take it down alone or with help!


HEADING HOME VICTORIOUSLY

However the hunt turns out in the details, in the end they will return from it with some meat to feast on. On the way back someone could accidentally stumble into some dust moths or rescue someone else from the dust moths.


VICTORY FEAST IN THE INN

On the 12th, the groffle have been properly stripped and handled so people can have their first taste of the kill. Maybe they feel guilty about it, maybe they don't, but either way, you might as well have some fresh meat that tastes a leaner than beef. It's offered by Hawke as a steak or strips. She doesn't have anywhere really to host so she tries to clean up the inn and push away all the important information so people have places to sit. Come have a meal and chat with your fellow hunters, or enjoy the meal regardless of going out with the others because it is communal. Maybe some stories about the hunt will be told!

[ooc: Add mingle topics to your heart's content.]

Comments

OTA & locked

[to_defend]

Dojo

7 is pretty good with her spear, and with her bola, but she's eager to learn something new. She remembered 5's crossbow, remembered firing it to give them an escape when he was faltering in the face of the Machine. A ranged weapon will be a good skill to have, and she shows up ready to learn.

She's a quick learner, and even if her aim is off she's willing to put in the work to make it better.

Taking down a Groffle

7 is fairly certain between her bola and her spear she'd be able to take one of these down no issue by herself, but today is about learning - so her spear is stashed at home, and she's got her bola at her side for emergencies only.

Sneaking along with the others, she's making a point to work cooperatively than follow her urge to hare off on her own. It's tempting, and when she sees a young bull that's wandered off from the herd she has to freeze and remind herself not to go stalking it on her own. She leans over and taps the butt of her bow against the nearest person, then jerks her head at the bull and mouths that one?

Feast

It was a thrilling adventure, and 7's at the feast feeling more content than she has in a while. It was different, killing a living than than it was killing a mechanical construct, but she's got an understanding now about humans needing to eat, and the groffle providing food, and - there is the thrill of the hunt.

She's definitely a little more relaxed now than she was at the Harvest Feast.

Closed to Hawke

While she did have a greater understanding about people, there were still a lot of things she didn't know. And, the longer she's here, the more people are finding out some of those little nuances.

Closed

[championofsnark]

"You did brilliantly, darling," Hawke compliments as she sits down next to 7. The woman might still be learning about much, but she's a fierce warrior, and Hawke loves that in anyone. Especially another woman. She is full of meat and good company, and the satisfaction that she brought something to the community they could all use. Or rather, eat. She'll deal with the hide and other parts soon, when the others aren't there to gag.

She sighs and looks around. "The only thing missing after a day like today is a good shag, you know?"

[to_defend]

"Thank you." 7 smiles at Hawke joins her. "I had a great time." Learning a new skill, hunting, coordinating with others - it was amazing, and she's suitably tired and content. She rather likes meat.

It is a good day, but after Hawke's next comment she had to frown. "Shag? What's a shag? Is that a food thing?"

[championofsnark]

"I'm glad. It's not for everyone, but that's why everyone wasn't invited." Hawke couldn't rely on any weak stomached people on a hunt.

"Oh it's slang for sex. Although I have had some food involved in shagging before, and it really isn't as great as people implied? We got honey all over the bed and it stuck for hours." That was with Isabela of course, she's the adventurous one. Anders was all soft touches and sweet intimacy and yuck. She didn't need that getting into her mind when she was in a good mood.

[to_defend]

7 listens, frowning as the conversation goes on. There are a lot of words she Korea's but the context is a little lost on her. It's food, but on a bed, but sometimes without food?

"What is sex?" It involved multiple period, that much she's got.

[championofsnark]

Hawke laughs like it's a joke, because it has to be a joke, as 7 looks to be at least in her 20s visibly. And even innocent virgins know the word sex. But she gets pretty quickly that it's not in fact one of those and stares at 7 with open surprise.

"It's ... well." She's not going to do the when two people love each other very much speech. It's a bad precedent. "So! Partly it's reproduction, how you have babies. When it comes to reproduction, there's a vagina and a penis involved. They're special body parts which are in this area." Hawke points right to her crotch. Really, she's been through more embarrassing things than this. "But sex itself can be had by anyone for any reason, or by yourself too, because it's fun. It feels amazing when it's done right. Like the rush of a good fight or a kill, only physically more satisfying feeling."

She really misses sex. "Our bodies are created with the parts and organs that makes sex possible, and sex pleasurable too. Even if some puritanical folks like to pretend that's not the case."

[to_defend]

7 listens, fascinated, still a little confused, but she doesn't have an ingrained taboo that some cultures do about sex. A large part of that was simply because she didn't have the described organs until recently.

But she did like a good fight and a clean kill. Hawke was smart to use those two concepts as references.

"So, that's how you end a day like this?" She's still not sure she understands entirely, but she got the impression it was the kind of thing that would come better with experience; you could explain how to kill a gruffalo all day, but to actually move on it was something else entirely.

[championofsnark]

"If I'm lucky, but it's been awhile. I don't know anyone around here yet enough to make a judgment on whether they're fine having casual sex." While Hawke is very comfortable with having sex, and she's very flirtatious, it's mostly for show and she'd rather be propositioned than the other way around. She knows the look when someone is interested and plays off that. If it's not showing, she won't push. She used to be having sex regularly, and then went cold turkey. How depressing.

"Sex can be very emotional for some people. Not everyone wants to do it simply for fun, they want an emotional and romantic attachment. You can't always help it, when feelings start to happen." Hawke has been able to separate the two, most of the time, she's had one-offs, and a regular friends-with-benefits with Isabela. They weren't in love, but they did love each other, in their own way. But then there was Anders. "For a first timer, you'll want to make a good choice, because it's uncomfortable at first. I'd suggest experimenting with your body, getting to know yourself before someone else does."

[to_defend]

That's a lot of good advice to consider. 7 did hope, though, that this kind of questioning wouldn't out her as Not Normally Human. So far Hawke hasn't seemed to act like it was particularly weird not to know these things.

"So, babies and pleasure, some like attachment but not always, and I don't need someone else to do it?"

She's a quick learner, at least.

Dojo

[thecatinahat]

Cougar isn't there to learn about long-range projectiles, but he's also not there to teach either. He's not wanting to do that, because it requires too much talking and that's not something he's ever wanted. He still like watching when other people learn, though, and he hovers around the woman, watching her carefully.

Watching a little, he nods to her and sets down his own weapon. "You have to think about more than your aim." At least, that's where he starts. "Breathing," is what he advises, hand on his diaphragm, because the importance of being steady and still is paramount.

[to_defend]

Practice is the only way she'll get better, so after her initial lessons she's putting in additional time and effort to really bring it in. Having an audience, well ... that gives her a little extra incentive to be as close to on mark as she can; showing off and proving herself competent.

But, it's still a fresh skill and she's still not amazing at it; when he steps in to give her some advice, she listens and adjusts accordingly.

"Breathing, got it." He had a point; right now she did have a tendency to hold her breath before she fired. Now, she readjusts, trying to keep in mind the steps she'd received earlier about holding the bow and holding the arrow. She pulls back, takes a moment to breathe in - breathe out = breathe in - fires.

[thecatinahat]

Cougar always drags in breaths hard and fast to steady himself, set a pace, and then he fires, but bullets are more temperamental than arrows or anything slower, but it works just as well. Tipping his head to the side, he tips his hat in approval when it's already getting better.

"When did you start shooting?" he asks, not wanting to presume she knows nothing of it.

[to_defend]

Better. That was definitely better. She sets her bow down and looks over at him.

"Today, actually. Is it obvious?" She smiles a little, having confidence in her ability to learn.

[thecatinahat]

"No," Cougar says, and it's honestly.

He's seen people start from scratch and be much worse, though that's usually the new recruits who come in green and needing to learn a lot of things. She seems like she has some experience in fighting, though maybe not this.

"Another weapon?" It's a brief prod, but he thinks she'll understand his question. What else does she wield? Because she already possesses some techniques, he can tell.

[to_defend]

"Spear, bola." One of which required at least a little aim, even if it wasn't precision based.

"You?"

[thecatinahat]

"Rifle," Cougar says, which is a very simplistic way to discuss the object that he'd lived with and felt closest to for such a long time, but he shrugs, not wanting to start going on and on about the thing that he loved so much.

She doesn't want to hear the make and the model, the notches he put in it, or all the details. At least, he doesn't think so. "No guns, not anymore," he admits, pressed lips together, so he hoists the crossbow and the bow because it's as close as he gets.

[to_defend]

"Ah, guns." Ah yes, guns. The enthusiasm in her expression wanes, thinking back on what the humans of her own world did with guns.

"I'm not too upset that there aren't any here, personally. Was there much need for them where you're from?"

[eaglesonofnone]

Training:

He knew how to stand and how, in general, to use a bow. He'd used them before, but his aim wasn't spectacular. Give him a throwing knife and it would bury itself in his target and bring it down without pause. Give him a bow and his first shot told part of the tale. He drew back easily enough, his arms strong from the freerunning practice he'd been putting himself into. But when he let go of the string, the shot went wide, the arrow missing the target in the entire. Enough reason for him to curse.

Walking to the Hunt:

After the incident during the mining expedition, Altaïr had carefully washed his given clothing, restoring it to whiteness, and this time opted for the magenta clothing he'd arrived in. That, he'd decided, wouldn't be so visible if it was stained with blood from their kill - and though he was used to having stained robes, those were robes. His new clothing, he had so little of that he wanted to be careful of the one thing that felt like home.

Feast:

More than most anything that had happened since his arrival, this sat well with him. He leaned back in his chair, the picture of satisfaction as he ate and let himself feel the camaraderie of a job well done. He was even more smiling than not, listening to the chatter around him, half-closing his eyes and imagining it to be the hall of Masyaf during a mealtime, many of the Brothers having returned after their successes. This? This felt good.

Feast

[notsoangry]

Bruce didn't have the stomach to go on the hunt itself. He can admit that. He isn't squeamish about blood or gore, it's more the idea of killing anything. But he did want to help out in the next steps for the feast. It's the least he can do if he plans on eating anything. He helps set tables and hand out whatever silverware they have. He's very nervous in public situations, but he gets better at it by the day. It's not as scary as it used to be, being in a crowd of people. The lack of danger to them was the important bit.

He still looks visibly awkward though; it's not natural to him, moving around others like this, but he's trying. He approaches Altaïr who looks relaxed and at ease. "Can I get you anything?" It's strange to basically be the waiter at thee moment, but it's something. "I figured I could help out at this point since you all did the work."

[eaglesonofnone]

His eyes opened and he sought out the speaker - and upon finding him, he raised a hand in calm denial. "I could ask for nothing more than the pleasant day I've had. I was glad to see what, here, is edible. I know now more that I can contribute, and look forward to doing my part.

"I am Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. Might I ask your name?"

The accent, if not the name, was unmistakably Arabic, the tone contented and conversational. A glance could tell him that this man was nervous, and it came naturally to him to try to help ease those nerves.

[notsoangry]

What an interesting way of putting things. It feels like an old way of phrasing, not a modern one, and Bruce is used to people from all walks of life being here. He has yet to meet a person in this village who isn't fascinating in some way, but he tends to observe rather than engage unless it's directly in his face. Which it is now. The accent is noted and connected quickly; Bruce lived in a lot of places over the past decade.

"Bruce Banner. Um, as-salāmu ʿalaykum." He knows that he's butchering the accent, but he's giving it a try anyway. He's never been good at speaking other languages. Understanding them, yes, speaking them, no. It's a toss up, whether trying but botching it is worse than not trying. His accompanying smile is a little apologetic. "

[eaglesonofnone]

"Wa ʿalaykumu as-salām," Altaïr answered. "Though, among my people, it is more commonly 'safety and peace.' I am not Saracen. I am Nizari Ismaili, but the difference is hard to tell and I am far from offended. I believe I have heard your name before - from Tony."

Without hesitation, he sat up and reached over to pull out a chair for Bruce to sit if he would, and even extended the invitation verbally: "Please. Sit. Talk with me. A friend of Tony's should be a friend of mine."

[notsoangry]

"Oh, I'm sorry." Bruce knows he just said he wasn't offended, but it's still his instinct to apologize for any missteps. Here he was trying to be welcoming and botched it. Still, he finds it interesting to hear the difference. He always likes learning new things about other cultures. "I didn't spend a lot of time in that part of the world. It was difficult to travel anywhere on a plane." He was wanted by the government. Sneaking across borders was easier on the land.

"Of course you know Tony. Most extroverted person I know." Even if he'd argue otherwise. Bruce's smile is instant and warm, far wider than what he typically does since he's so subdued, but he reacts to Tony with consistency. "He's my closest friend and one of the best people in my universe." His loyalty is absolute. For all Tony's flaws, he's still that in Bruce's eyes. He sits down with the invitation, wringing his hands in a nervous gesture. It's fine. The man is nice. He should relax.

[eaglesonofnone]

After a nod he hoped to be reassuring, Altaïr reached forward, picking up an unused cup and pouring it full of water to hand to his new acquaintance. "I believe him to be a good man, if with a great tendency to take more trouble onto his shoulders than he should. His sense of responsibility may have outstripped his ability to withstand. Though he is also the type to deny such observations until the last moment." Or so he'd seen so far. And he wouldn't have said a word of it if this man hadn't said he was a friend to Tony to the point of calling him one of the best people in his universe. An interesting phrase to say the least.

"But he is not here and you are. I am interested in all of the inhabitants of this place. Your name is Bruce. I may have heard the name spoken by Englishmen in passing."

[notsoangry]

Bruce hesitated before taking it, since he was the one handing out drinks to others, but if he was going to sit and talk it was only polite. He smiled into the water cup at Altaïr's very good reading of Tony. "He is an easy read for anyone perceptive, but he hates being read." Bruce is similar that way, although he can be harder to see through than Tony if someone wasn't aware of his green problem. His emotions and thoughts are fairly open, but the interior mind whirling is guarded. "He spent many years hiding behind a careless arrogant apathetic mask, and it's still hard for him to take it off with new people."

He raised an eyebrow. "My full name is Robert Bruce, so it's pretty solidly English in heritage, I'd say. Somewhere way back. I dropped the Robert when I was a kid." He had his reasons. He always felt more like a Bruce than a Robert anyway. He frowned, trying to think of what was interesting to tell a stranger. "I'm a doctor. Of, um, more science than anything else, but I have medical training." That was usually the only thing he introduced himself with. "Tony and I live together, we worked together. Work together too, I guess, I'm his go-to engineering assistant." A faint smile at that.