midnight_medea
((not a good pic...but this is what a kyudo jo looks like.
A crisp Sunday morning. The air was damp and cool, the sun had not yet risen to burn the dew off the grass and buildings. Jess stood in the open wooden dojo and breathed in the morning air. Perfect.
Sighing happily she slipped the leather chest guard over her head and untied the fabric case that held her bow. Her pride and joy. Stringing it quickly she took up her postition on the wooden floor of the dojo and took an arrow from the pot next to her. She was hardly dressed in the proper attire but she didn't care, this was only practice after all.
Standing, facing the target sideways she raised the bow above her head and positioned the arrow across it. Clearing her mind she drew it down her index finger guiding the shaft of the arrow until it was level with her eyes. Swiftly she lined it up and released the arrow from her grip. It landed in the centre of the target with a satifying thud.
Jess smiled and reached for another arrow.
Quote:
[X]
A crisp Sunday morning. The air was damp and cool, the sun had not yet risen to burn the dew off the grass and buildings. Jess stood in the open wooden dojo and breathed in the morning air. Perfect.
Sighing happily she slipped the leather chest guard over her head and untied the fabric case that held her bow. Her pride and joy. Stringing it quickly she took up her postition on the wooden floor of the dojo and took an arrow from the pot next to her. She was hardly dressed in the proper attire but she didn't care, this was only practice after all.
Standing, facing the target sideways she raised the bow above her head and positioned the arrow across it. Clearing her mind she drew it down her index finger guiding the shaft of the arrow until it was level with her eyes. Swiftly she lined it up and released the arrow from her grip. It landed in the centre of the target with a satifying thud.
Jess smiled and reached for another arrow.
ceedabear
Obsidian clutched her new novel nervously as she approached the school's archery range. Hearing Ceara speak of archery with such passion had peaked her curiosity. She just wanted to take a look to see what it was like, and if there was too many people she could easily disappear and enjoy the rest of the morning with her book. When the range came into view she stopped to survey the population. There was only one young woman standing amongst the dew. Obsidian watched as she went through the graceful motions, but she couldn't see very well from where she was standing. She silently moved closer, unwilling to break the other's concentration. Suddenly the arrow was released and Obie stopped short at the thunk. Obsidian eyed the young woman as she hugged her arms around herself. Maybe if she remained invisible she'd be able to see how she had made that shot so easily, she thought to herself.
midnight_medea
Although she didn't turn round Jess new the girl was there. At least she assumed it was a girl. The light footsteps seemed too delicate and timid for that of a boy, even a shy one.
"Take a seat." She said pulling another arrow out of the pot without turning. I'll be with you in just a second.
She drew the bow again, faster this time and let the arrow fly as soon as it reached the correct level. Yet again it landed in the centre of the small target with a thud. Nodding Jess turned to face the dark haired girl.
"Are you a member of the club?" She asked as she crossed the dojo to place her bow in one of the racks.
"Take a seat." She said pulling another arrow out of the pot without turning. I'll be with you in just a second.
She drew the bow again, faster this time and let the arrow fly as soon as it reached the correct level. Yet again it landed in the centre of the small target with a thud. Nodding Jess turned to face the dark haired girl.
"Are you a member of the club?" She asked as she crossed the dojo to place her bow in one of the racks.
ceedabear
Obsidian had been so intent on being invisible, that the brisk voice startled her. Blinking a few times, she turned and found a chair to sit on. She must be a teacher, Obie thought. She commanded attention even if that was not her purpose. Perched slightly on the edge, she watched her go through the graceful movements once more, again ending in an abrupt thunk. Obsidian had to admit she was impressed with the accuracy. Obie nervously adjusted her green plaid skirt with one hand, while the other still clutched her book tightly when she noticed the other woman was turning to face her.
"Club? Oh... no. I was just curious. Should I leave?" she asked starting to get to her feet. She hadn't realized the range was for club members only.
"Club? Oh... no. I was just curious. Should I leave?" she asked starting to get to her feet. She hadn't realized the range was for club members only.
midnight_medea
Jess blinked at the girl's sudden movement.
"Eh? No...You can stay." She said gesturing to the timid girl to sit back down. "I was just curious. I'm the new club supervisior and I've yet to meet any members."
Jess looked the girl over and instantly felt concerned. Everything about the girl screamed prey, her posture, the way she clutched the book as if dropping it would kill her. The more outgoing students would eat her alive. Knowing what it was like to be an outsider and lonely because of it Jess smiled slightly.
"Want some tea?" She asked gesturing to the kettle. She wasn't sure if the girl would want to stay and chat. She knew she wouldn't have done at her age. "What book are you reading?"
"Eh? No...You can stay." She said gesturing to the timid girl to sit back down. "I was just curious. I'm the new club supervisior and I've yet to meet any members."
Jess looked the girl over and instantly felt concerned. Everything about the girl screamed prey, her posture, the way she clutched the book as if dropping it would kill her. The more outgoing students would eat her alive. Knowing what it was like to be an outsider and lonely because of it Jess smiled slightly.
"Want some tea?" She asked gesturing to the kettle. She wasn't sure if the girl would want to stay and chat. She knew she wouldn't have done at her age. "What book are you reading?"
ceedabear
Obsidian stared at the teacher. She had never been noticed by one except in class. I've never really been noticed by anyone for that matter, she gave a silent snort. She slowly sank back down to her seat.
"Tea? I would like some, thank you," she said, again readjusting her skirt out of habit. When she asked about her book, she finally released her deathgrip on it, to glance down at the cover.
"Lady of the Forest," she replied. "It's a Sherwood Forest novel, but not exactly about Robin Hood."
"Tea? I would like some, thank you," she said, again readjusting her skirt out of habit. When she asked about her book, she finally released her deathgrip on it, to glance down at the cover.
"Lady of the Forest," she replied. "It's a Sherwood Forest novel, but not exactly about Robin Hood."
midnight_medea
Jess nodded crossing to the stove that heated the dojo and placed a heavy kettle of water on top.
"I haven't read it." She said taking a couple of cups out of one of the cupboards that lined the dojo. "Though I do like reading. Is it a good book?"
She felt slightly accomplished as she spooned green tea leaves into a small teapot. At least she had got the girl to say something.
"The title reminds me a bit of one of my favourite books." She said setting the pot down next to the kettle and stadning back to let it boil. "The Mists of Avalon. Do you know it?"
"I haven't read it." She said taking a couple of cups out of one of the cupboards that lined the dojo. "Though I do like reading. Is it a good book?"
She felt slightly accomplished as she spooned green tea leaves into a small teapot. At least she had got the girl to say something.
"The title reminds me a bit of one of my favourite books." She said setting the pot down next to the kettle and stadning back to let it boil. "The Mists of Avalon. Do you know it?"
ceedabear
Obsidian looked back up to watch her prepare the tea. She had never seen it done like that before. She was used to the standard tea bags. It took her a second to realize she had asked her some questions.
"It is a good book, though I've only just started it." Her eyes flicked down to glance at the top of her bookmark peeking out from the pages.
"I do know it," she said, her rare smile making its way across her lips. "I read it in four days."
midnight_medea
Jess took a seat, the kettle would take an age to boil. It was some huge medieval looking thing. Aparently the dojo didn't have any electrical sockets.
"Wow." Jess said, visibly impressed. "It took me at least a couple of weeks to get through. But then I'm a sporadic reader." She shrugged and brushed a bit of fluff off her jeans. Cocking her head to one side, she looked at the girl again. She suddenly realised she hadn't even asked her name. "Sorry did I ask your name? I've got a mind like a sieve."
"Wow." Jess said, visibly impressed. "It took me at least a couple of weeks to get through. But then I'm a sporadic reader." She shrugged and brushed a bit of fluff off her jeans. Cocking her head to one side, she looked at the girl again. She suddenly realised she hadn't even asked her name. "Sorry did I ask your name? I've got a mind like a sieve."
ceedabear
A tinge of color crept up on Obie's cheeks at the look on the other woman's face.
"Obsidian," she replied when asked for her name. "And no... you didn't ask. May I ask what yours is?"
"Obsidian," she replied when asked for her name. "And no... you didn't ask. May I ask what yours is?"
midnight_medea
((Yeah, so I can't keep track of my character's colours. xp ))
"Obsidian." Jess said to herself, trying the name out. It sounded funny with her strong accent. "Cool name, mine's dead boring. Jessica. Jess mostly." She smirked, her family all insisted on calling her Jessie which she hated with a passion.
The water in the kettle was begining to bubble its way to boiling point.
"So I'm guessing your as new as me." She said, completely assuming from Obsidian's earlier trepidation at entering the dojo. "What do you think of this place so far?" She asked gestuing to the open end of the dojo but meaning the school in general.
"Obsidian." Jess said to herself, trying the name out. It sounded funny with her strong accent. "Cool name, mine's dead boring. Jessica. Jess mostly." She smirked, her family all insisted on calling her Jessie which she hated with a passion.
The water in the kettle was begining to bubble its way to boiling point.
"So I'm guessing your as new as me." She said, completely assuming from Obsidian's earlier trepidation at entering the dojo. "What do you think of this place so far?" She asked gestuing to the open end of the dojo but meaning the school in general.
ceedabear
[that's okay xd we all still love you anyways heart tee hee]
Obsidian listened as she said her name aloud. She liked the way it sounded. She was a bit confused though. She was certain that, though she looked young, Jessica was not a student. She had even said she was the archery club supervisor. But Obie had never had a teacher be so informal before. Well... honestly no one has ever really been informal with her, she thought. This school was such a different environment for her.
"I've just arrived a few weeks ago. It seems... nice," she struggled with the right word.
"I'm sorry, but are you a teacher here? I know you said you were the archery club supervisor... but... are we allowed to call teachers by their first names?" she asked suddenly, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
Obsidian listened as she said her name aloud. She liked the way it sounded. She was a bit confused though. She was certain that, though she looked young, Jessica was not a student. She had even said she was the archery club supervisor. But Obie had never had a teacher be so informal before. Well... honestly no one has ever really been informal with her, she thought. This school was such a different environment for her.
"I've just arrived a few weeks ago. It seems... nice," she struggled with the right word.
"I'm sorry, but are you a teacher here? I know you said you were the archery club supervisor... but... are we allowed to call teachers by their first names?" she asked suddenly, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
midnight_medea
Jess gave a small snort of laughter at the description of the school being 'nice.' Not exactly what she'd call it. As the kettle began to whistle she stood.
"Yeah I'm a teacher. I teach literature." She said gesturing to Obsidian's book as she picked up a cloth and wound it round the handle of the kettle. "I suppose you should call me Ms Montecelli." She shrugged pouring the water into the tea pot. "Though this is my first year teaching. Introducing myself as Ms Montecelli feels hellish strange." She laughed picking the two cups up in one hand and the teapot in the other.
"So I'm curious. What brought you here to the kyudojo? Are you interested in joining the archery club?"
"Yeah I'm a teacher. I teach literature." She said gesturing to Obsidian's book as she picked up a cloth and wound it round the handle of the kettle. "I suppose you should call me Ms Montecelli." She shrugged pouring the water into the tea pot. "Though this is my first year teaching. Introducing myself as Ms Montecelli feels hellish strange." She laughed picking the two cups up in one hand and the teapot in the other.
"So I'm curious. What brought you here to the kyudojo? Are you interested in joining the archery club?"
ceedabear
Obsidian thought back to that evening she had spent with Ceara. She had spoken with such a passion that Obie found herself compelled to check it out for herself. She had never been provided the opportunity to explore anything other than school and books.
"I had run into a student a few days ago who loves archery. She spoke so highly of it... I decided I wanted to come and see for myself," she replied.
"I had run into a student a few days ago who loves archery. She spoke so highly of it... I decided I wanted to come and see for myself," she replied.
midnight_medea
Jess nodded and thought to the club sign in roster. There was one name that occured almost as much as her own. Also Murasaki had mentioned that she had a fellow archery loving friend she wanted jess to meet.
"This friend wouldn't be called Caera would she?" Jess asked as she poured the green coloured tea into the cups. "I saw her name on the sign in sheet." Handing Obsidian a mug she sat down again. "You should join. Aparently there are a lot of kids in the club. I'm sure half of them will quit when they find out it's not as easy and glamourous as they all think." Jess may be a bit of a half arsed teacher but when it came to martial arts she was extremely strict and wouldn't tolerate time wasters.
"This friend wouldn't be called Caera would she?" Jess asked as she poured the green coloured tea into the cups. "I saw her name on the sign in sheet." Handing Obsidian a mug she sat down again. "You should join. Aparently there are a lot of kids in the club. I'm sure half of them will quit when they find out it's not as easy and glamourous as they all think." Jess may be a bit of a half arsed teacher but when it came to martial arts she was extremely strict and wouldn't tolerate time wasters.
ceedabear
[*snuggle luffs Gabu*]
Had she said friend? Obsidian wasn't sure if that's what Ceara was... though she wouldn't mind the willowy, soft spoken girl as a friend.
"Yeah, Ceara is her name," she replied, taking the mug of tea and blowing gently on it. She took a small sip and nearly scalded her tongue. Join the club? She hadn't really thought that far yet, she thought to herself, lowering her mug to cradle it gently on top of her book in her lap.
"I hadn't really thought about it. I don't know anything about it all," she admitted.
Had she said friend? Obsidian wasn't sure if that's what Ceara was... though she wouldn't mind the willowy, soft spoken girl as a friend.
"Yeah, Ceara is her name," she replied, taking the mug of tea and blowing gently on it. She took a small sip and nearly scalded her tongue. Join the club? She hadn't really thought that far yet, she thought to herself, lowering her mug to cradle it gently on top of her book in her lap.
"I hadn't really thought about it. I don't know anything about it all," she admitted.
midnight_medea
Jess cupped the mug in her hands and smiled again.
"That's what I'm employed for." She said simply. "I doubt many of the students know a damn thing about archery. We all have to start somewhere."
Blowing on her tea thoughtfully she looked at the girl's book. An idea coming to her. Putting the tea down she lifted her bag onto her lap and opened it.
"Here." She said handing Obsidian a worn well loved paperback. "This is all about kyudo. It's non fiction but it's really well written. See if it inspires you."
"That's what I'm employed for." She said simply. "I doubt many of the students know a damn thing about archery. We all have to start somewhere."
Blowing on her tea thoughtfully she looked at the girl's book. An idea coming to her. Putting the tea down she lifted her bag onto her lap and opened it.
"Here." She said handing Obsidian a worn well loved paperback. "This is all about kyudo. It's non fiction but it's really well written. See if it inspires you."
ceedabear
Obsidian blinked a few times as Jessica held out a well-read book. No one had ever loaned her anything before. Timidly she shifted the mug so that she could balance both mug and book with one hand on her lap while she reached out for the other.
"I don't mind if it's non fiction. I'll read just about anything," a genuinely happy smile appeared. "Thank you. I really appreciate this." She gently took the book from Jessica's hand and set it gingerly on top of the other book next to the mug, reading the title silently. Her eye caught sight of her watch. She hadn't meant to stay here so long. She needed to head back to her dorm and start studying for her biology test the next day.
"Thank you again for the book... and for the tea. I have a test tomorrow, and I need to go study," she said standing, cradling both books against her chest and holding the mug, not sure what to do with the rest of her tea.
"I don't mind if it's non fiction. I'll read just about anything," a genuinely happy smile appeared. "Thank you. I really appreciate this." She gently took the book from Jessica's hand and set it gingerly on top of the other book next to the mug, reading the title silently. Her eye caught sight of her watch. She hadn't meant to stay here so long. She needed to head back to her dorm and start studying for her biology test the next day.
"Thank you again for the book... and for the tea. I have a test tomorrow, and I need to go study," she said standing, cradling both books against her chest and holding the mug, not sure what to do with the rest of her tea.
midnight_medea
Jess stood up and nodded.
"You can leave the tea there. I'll clean it all up." She returned the girl's smile with an equally as genuine one. As much as she pretented not to care it was good to see the girl smile. "And good luck on your test." She put her own mug down and walked over to retrieve her bow. "Don't study too hard."
With the last comment she took her position once more at the front of the dojo, ready to begin training again.
((and on that note I need to sleep. whee Night Night. heart ))
"You can leave the tea there. I'll clean it all up." She returned the girl's smile with an equally as genuine one. As much as she pretented not to care it was good to see the girl smile. "And good luck on your test." She put her own mug down and walked over to retrieve her bow. "Don't study too hard."
With the last comment she took her position once more at the front of the dojo, ready to begin training again.
((and on that note I need to sleep. whee Night Night. heart ))
