My Arrow's Sharp - Open

[Chester Douglas]

Without an official archery club in school, Chester had put it upon himself to put up his own stand in the corner of the training field. Yes, he could have bought his own club outside of the school but he couldn't be bothered to find the real estate and drive all the way out there and do it alone.

At least here, people would know he could do things his abilities couldn't. That he meant business.

Of course, he was well aware that he would be put in jail if he did anything involving a bow and arrow but still, it was a good dream to have.

Picking up an arrow, Chester cricked his neck as he straightened it against his bow. An almost deafening silence came over him as he pulled the string back and released the arrow. It missed the bull's eye but it came exceptionally close to it. Chester released a satisfied sigh and picked another arrow up, unaware that he was being watched.

Ironic, really. That a telepath was unaware.

[Appoline Meian]

Normally, weekends meant time at home with the family; her mother was still at home, as was her sister, but Appoline wandered the school grounds with little care what was happening with them. The snow was beautiful to be out in, and the training grounds held few people today. Apparently, after the annual snowball fight, people tended to keep away as much as they normally did.


Despite the need for after-school activities for students in her home country, no one had pressured the wallflower into joining their groups. There were few fliers for clubs, and tryouts for athletic teams were held the season before their activities began. Considering that the art club was often very noisy and the school didn't seem to have a gymnastics team (unless one counted cheerleading and the resident "dance" team), neither did the older Meian girl feel the need to push herself into a group. She had few friends and fewer people she could speak to candidly, and shyness was a terrible thing.


As she walked, the teen noticed someone out on their own in the field. Squinting, she could make out a stance that she recognized and a target a fair distance away. Though she'd never been particularly interesting in archery back in Japan, she'd been feeling the need to draw people in action again and archery was a sport that had people in the same position for long stretches of time with minimal movement; perfect for an artist to capture. There was a moment of hesitation, but curiosity won out and the short girl walked through the snow carefully towards the other student.


He didn't seem to see her as she approached, so Appoline took her sketchbook and flipped it open, making a note of the perspective she had before sketching the scene in basic shapes. Perhaps she should have asked first, but she didn't intend to show her book to anyway and talking to people made her very nervous. So, she simply sketched, glancing up now and again to catch a detail as she sat on a nearby bench. The boy was a good shot, and he was very photogenic - he'd made a lovely addition to her book.

[Chester Douglas]

Arrow after arrow followed the first one, getting closer to the bullseye. Chester grinned and put his bow down, inspecting the work he had done. At the corner of his eye, he saw someone sitting not too far from him.

He turned and smirked to find a girl sketching intently.

"I actually charge for a portrait." He called out, not even inspecting whether or not she was even sketching him. She didn't look the type to be all indignant and sarcastic.

[Appoline Meian]

The boy had been firing arrows for a while yet. It was only details that remained now; the curl of his hair over his ears, the firm set to his brow, the soft lines at his lips that showed thought and concentration. Appoline had literally just glanced up and back to her page when he noticed her. Thus, she was taken completely unawares when he spoke.


The Japanese girl jumped slightly, habit alone pulling her pencil from the page before it could ruin her sketch. Her perch on the bench, however, was just precarious enough that she slid from it, falling to the ground with a slight yelp of surprise. Her mind, sensing danger inherent in this, immediately split her legs for stability, and the teen landed much softer in the snow than she would have... albeit with each foot the furthest they could be from each other straight out. She sat for a moment, stunned and now cold with her long skirt pooling about her hips and knees in a woolen wave, and then flushed deeply.


She'd made a fool of herself again.


"I... I'm..." she stammered, her voice soft and almost inaudible. "I'm so very sorry. I didn't... I didn't mean to intrude." You were a perfect subject; I didn't want to bother you, so I just started drawing and- "If you don't, um, want me here, I... I can always..." Go far far away and never bother you again.

[Chester Douglas]

Chester didn't stop himself from laughing at the angle the girl fell in. Even if he could, he wouldn't have. What was the point? It was funny. Besides, Chester wasn't known to be the most decent human being. At least not on Hammel grounds.

Hearing her thoughts and immediately gathering other information about her that he didn't need to know, causing his head to squeeze in on itself, Chester smirked and raised an eyebrow.

"Perfect, huh?" He adjusted his bow in his hand and shrugged. "How can I deny someone their perfect subject?" He stood back in his previous position and got ready to shoot another arrow. "You should get back on that bench and sit properly so you don't miss all of this." He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement before shooting his last arrow.

He went to the target and pulled out all the arrows to shoot again. "So how much are you paying to draw me?" He asked, amusement in his voice.

[Appoline Meian]

He... he's laughing at me! The thought itself was indignant, though the outward reaction was simply more blushing. Maybe I should have just stayed home today. Appoline was not the most forward girl, though she definitely had a mind of her own. Given the seemingly slight propensity for telepaths at the school, it was something she could indulge herself in, even if her shyness kept her from speaking out normally. Biting her lip in dismay, the short girl pulled her legs together, one knee over the other until both limbs were tucked under her skirt completely. Though she was still cold, wet, and on the ground, at least she wasn't in the splits anymore.


"P-perfect?" she stammered, not comprehending. For a moment, Appoline was lost, but then her eyes widened as realization hit her. I was thinking he was a perfect model for my sketching. He read my mind! In a way, it was strangely gratifying. In a much more obvious way, the Japanese girl was mortified. "Oh, um... I well, if you really don't mind..."


His suggestion as he turned around was sound, but her mind still applied its scathing response as she struggled to her feet. Oh yes, because I love being on the ground in the snow when I sketch. By all means, strut around like a peacock for all I- The irritated thought process quenched itself as she remembered that the boy was a telepath yet again. This would take some getting used to.


As she sat on the bench, the sketchbook came down to her lap, the drawing mostly complete but still missing a few details. She'd always been a good speed-sketch. "W-well, I... um, well that is..." Paying to sketch someone? If you don't want me to sketch you, just say so. "I don't really have... have any money with me... but, um... I-I can just give it to you, if you want. I don't need to keep it or anything..."


Appoline was not an inherently mean-spirited person, nor did she really enjoy confrontation. She was very shy and very polite, keeping her head down in order to avoid most problems. Despite this, she had a strong will and thought in her own right with great strength and poise. Anyone reading her thoughts (or even tracking her emotions) would almost swear that there were two different people living inside her skull, with the really backwards irony of having the shy one on the outside and the assured one stuck within.

[Chester Douglas]

This surprise interaction was definitely amusing Chester, but the most amusing part was that this girl's thoughts were a lot less quiet than she is. The quiet ones really are the ones that are the loudest, aren't they?

Smirking, Chester raised an eyebrow at the girl for the feeling she was emoting via thought. Well, never heard that one before.

"Why would I mind being called perfect?" He shrugged as he tried to concentrate on slinging arrows. But the girl was being sarcastic in her, and in his, head and Chester couldn't help but laugh at how indignant she sounded. "I'm more of a gazelle while I strut. Peacocks are too flashy, don't you think?" Chester teased, liking this girl for the sole purpose of tormenting her anyway.

"But I never said I didn't want you to sketch me." Chester released his arrow but it went off kilter at the distraction. "On the contrary. Immortalising a perfect subject is a public service to everyone." He waved a hand in a grand gesture.

Like he was doing her a great honour.

"It's okay, dear. I can wait for the money. You can keep the sketch because how could you deny yourself such a wonderful piece of art?" He drawled as he once again shot the arrow. This time, it hit dead center. A satisfied smirk spread across his face.

"Will this take long?"

[Appoline Meian]

That's not what I meant and you know it. Her eyes averted, the shy girl worried her lip a little more, pulling into herself. She knew this boy was a telepath, and yet she couldn't keep her thoughts from going off on him. Granted, it meant that she didn't have to speak to speak her mind, but it was disconcerting nonetheless. There were a lot of things in her head that she didn't want to let out.


Tucking her hair back behind her ear, Appoline leaned back over her drawing, glancing up when he spoke but quickly returning her gaze to the paper and graphite. Not really - keep whipping those arrows like that and someone will think you have something to prove. Despite the tone of mind, she said nothing. Shaking her head slightly to push the thoughts away, the pencil began moving once more; much more slowly than before, but with the same grace and precision. Getting the last few details was always the hardest part, after all.


She almost twitched at the arrogance in his voice, but refrained and continued. Slowly, she was getting the concept of keeping her mouth (and mind) shut up. Her quick flashes of annoyance would reveal a few thoughts, but for the most part she focused, keeping her mind on the relatively trivial issues of where to place each line and how to erase a few to make for perfect shading. She honestly wouldn't have bothered talking to him again if he hadn't asked her anything.


It takes as long as it takes. "W-well, j-just a few minutes," she mumbled softly. The lengthy part's done - the details are all that's left. With her mind focused on the art itself, the 'voice' was firm, but less aggravated. There were concepts and ideas, all sliding through with their own words and understanding even as she remained totally silent. It was one thing her mind did very clearly - thinking through every step in quick succession before it was completed.

[Chester Douglas]

Chester held back his laughter at her retort, letting her off the hook this time. Some people just can't take a joke. He was actually intrigued by her inner workings that what she was portraying outside didn't matter much.

Her response to his public service comment made him laugh. "We've got the next Freud here everybody." Chester announced to no one in particular. "I do have something to prove though." He called out, effortlessly sliding an arrow into place. And without looking at the target, he took a shot. "That this place needs a decent archery club." He turned back to the target to find his arrow two inches shy of the bulls eye.

For awhile, the girl seemed silent so Chester smirked and went back to what he was doing before. He cocked his head slightly when she responded to his question. "I feel like I'm just giving and you're just taking. Seems a bit selfish. You should share a bit, Appoline." Chester turned to face her to see her reaction to him saying her name out loud.

[Appoline Meian]

Though she suspected that the laughter was once again directed at her, Appoline focused on her art, keeping as much of her attention on the details as possible. She didn't want any open confrontations, but at least once she was done she was free to leave.


"An... an archery club?" she asked, looking up. While such teams were common in Japan, it hadn't really occurred to her that there might not be any such thing here in the US. It was likely that this boy had already brought it up to the faculty and been denied, though her father may be interested; he was vice-captain of the kendo team at Eisai for his final three years, and he supervised a number of the martial arts clubs as a substitute teacher. "Have you... um, well... did you already apply for one?"


She wasn't really sure why she was trying to engage in conversation. Maybe just to keep him from teasing her more?


Though her pencil sketching slowed, it did not stop when he mentioned her name. He was telepathic, after all; he would know her name just by looking at her self-awareness. With a final glance up at the boy's face, the last few lines were drawn and she stood, bowing deeply to the other student. "Th-thank you very much," she stammered, straightening up after issuing her statement of gratitude. "Um... since you know my name... may I know yours? I... well, um..." It's to mark the portrait - I always name them after the subjects.

[Chester Douglas]

"I didn't stutter, did I?" Chester responded arrogantly. Her question brought a shrug to the young man's frame. "That would be too much work. And I don't like hearing the word no." He admitted. It wasn't a secret that the multi-billionaire royal heir did not handle rejection well.

When she didn't react to his calling her name out, he rolled his eyes and turned back to the target. Truthfully, he would rather be hunting right then. With a gun and his horse, Lexus. He was too far away from his siblings and all these granola, animal loving hippies on Hammel ground were obviously not going to be game to hunt with him.

"Chester Douglas." He answered, not at all insulted that this girl didn't know his name. His reputation alone preceded him so even if she didn't know who he was, she would definitely soon find out about his indiscretion with girls. And boys, should that little tidbit ever actually come to surface.

[Appoline Meian]

The stuttering comment stung slightly, given that the hitch in her words had come less from English being a third language and more from the fact that it was in fact very cold outside and her leggings were damp. Still, she pushed forward, unsure of why. "Maybe... you should ask," she mumbled softly. "There might be a teacher who'd support it, if it was, um... allowed. Maybe you could ask them before the headmistress..."


With a teacher to support an idea, there might be a greater chance for the club he wanted to be accepted onto campus. And it was better than standing off in the training field on a Saturday hoping someone would see and praise him.


Quickly scrawling the name she was given in a flowy typography at the edge of the page, Appoline stood and... paused. Did she really want to show him the picture? Granted, she would probably give it to him regardless, but she still wasn't sure how he'd take it. "Well, Chester..." she murmured, fidgeting with the page. "It's... it's done, then."


She'd give him the sketchbook to look at the drawing if he wanted to see, since it was his picture. The drawing she held was a two-part piece merged into one; the lower section a full-body picture of his stance with the snow shadowed at his feet, then a close-up of his eyes in concentration over the top. It was a pencil sketch, and done very quickly, but the light and shadows were well-defined, as was every crease and fold. It was no masterpiece, but it certainly was a beautiful work.

[Chester Douglas]

An eyebrow raised at the statement she gave before he turned to her. "What part of "it's too much work" did you not comprehend?" He asked. He was surprised she even pushed, he didn't expect it to go in that direction. Especially not from her. "Besides, if this doesn't get their attention, I'm better off doing this myself."

The thought of him doing anything for praise amused him. Chester lived his whole life with people believing he was good at what he did. But he didn't strive to get people's acceptance. Attention, yes. But praise was not his top priority. He did things to prove a point, maybe but he knew not everybody was going to like what he did. But that never stopped him from doing it.

When she announced that she was done, Chester walked over to her and plucked the book out of her hand, with no regards to private property. He looked it over and smirked. He tore out the picture and gave back the sketchbook. "Artists rarely make the money they spend on their supplies. But I'm guessing you have other things in mind when it comes to a career?"

[Appoline Meian]

Who is here, aside from us? Even as she flinched at his tone, the thought still rose unbidden. It was awfully arrogant for him to think that his little rebellious streak would cause anyone to notice him. Well, anyone important that is. Appoline herself really didn't count; she people-watched as an inspiration form, and she was student with no sway on the student council. The fact that he'd caught her attention was simply bad luck.


The snatching of the book almost made her grab for it back, but with a strong effort she forced her hands back down, nibbling at her lip nervously. She'd always worried about people scrutinizing her work closely, but given the not-quite-smile on Chester's face, he liked what he saw. The sound of the perforated paper tearing made her wince as well (considering that she had not expected it), and she took the book back with shaking hands. At least he didn't tear or crumple the picture, she mused sadly.


It didn't really occur to her that he might do that now just to spite her.


"Well... yes," she muttered softly. Art was a hobby, not a career path; it was the same with her gymnastics. "I... that is, there are other, ah, choices I can make." She'd planned on working through that when she went to college, finding work where she didn't have to be noticed all of the time. A court typographer, maybe, or a librarian.

[Chester Douglas]

Her question summoned up a smirk on Chester's face. He supposed he didn't blame her for not understanding how his mind worked. That was his job. But the effort that went to actually booking a time and place for approval of something he wanted to do was much more well-spent in doing it anyway until someone noticed. And he was on a prime spot. If the people in charge saw it and didn't give a damn about it, he could just do it until they decide to make it official. Until then, he wasn't going to waste his time and breath demanding something he was going to do regardless of the officiality.

One day, somebody would try to understand him and find a friend in him. But today was not that day. Or ever.

Her worry that he might tear it had him smirking even more. It should have occurred to her that had he wanted to, he would have even before she had that thought. It still surprised Chester that people seemed to think he lived by that code. He did what he wanted, not what people expected him to do or not to do.

"I'm glad you have amibition other than this." He waved the piece of paper in his hand as indication to what he was saying before going over to get his supplies. "But what do I know? I could just very well be buying your work later in the future without even knowing it." He called out to her with a somewhat cordial grin.

His supplies packed up, Chester threw it over his shoulder and walked past Appoline. "Interesting day today, don't you think?" Chester nodded politely at Appoline, a faint trace of a smile on his lips as he walked off.