Pajama Field {open}

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Astrid was standing in the middle of a field, wearing a rather fetching pair of blue pajamas. They technically had something that looked uncannily like clouds stitched upon them, and appeared to be the soft sort of cloth best suited for sleepy time wear. They hung relatively loose on the girl, and exposed a fair share of leg. Astrid was, after all, exceptionally tall for a female, especially one of her age. One might be expecting her to have a weapon of some sort on hand, as Astrid did have a frequency toward being armed. It might surprise those same people to learn that Astrid did not sleep with a weapon actually on her person: she kept them under her bed.

Which might have been alright, had Astrid been anywhere near her bed. She was not. She was instead standing in the middle of Longleat Field. It was mid-morning, actually, around the time when the clock returned to double-digits after twelve hours or so of single ones. So there she was, standing there, looking rather dazed. Her hair was in a sleeping braid, but bits of blonde still sprang from it. There was no makeup, not that there ever was, but there was also no evidence of her having done anything to really clean up. Though really, it was likely the pajamas and the lack of shoes that would hint toward things.

"What am I doing here?" she murmured. A hand went up to rub at her face and she looked around. Yes, this was definitely Longleat Field. She reached down, fingering her shirt. Yes, that was definitely her pajamas. So... why was she here? Now?

"Who bespelled me?" she yelled, turning and looking around the field, anger flashing in her blue eyes. Her hands were already clenched into fists, and it was altogether likely that she was about to start swinging at any moment now.

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Artemis hadn't taught many what she knew. All of those years of gaining knowledge and wisdom, nobody knew. Well, wisdom pertaining to her gifts, and what she had been assigned to. In fact, she had only perhaps taught four or five for as long as she's been alive. Her companions were just that - companions. They observed Artemis and her skill, naturally, but personally, the goddess hadn't taught any of them what they knew now.

For some reason, Astrid was different. Not very, only slight, but different nevertheless. She was promising. She was like...a protegee. Artemis' protegee. But to be Artemis' protegee, one needed to work very hard, and be extremely dedicated. Now, if Astrid hadn't been interested, she would have denied this companionship from the start, no doubt. But the girl was definitely considering a few things, and Artemis could see that. She would let the girl choose what she really wanted, because there was no point in wasting her time.

Intending to keep her promise to see Astrid soon, Artemis decided that this bright sunny morning would be soon enough. Astrid shouldn't be expecting her, and so she would be slightly disoriented for a bit. But only a little. Because whomever Artemis struck deals with became very personal to her, she was able to find a way to get Astrid out of her bed, whenever that was, and onto the Longleat Field for her first lesson. Artemis wasn't one for spells and magic. In fact, she couldn't stand it. But the power she had was emotional, mental...Astrid was now always within her grasp until Artemis released her from the deal, or Astrid broke it.

Watching the warrior's look and act of confusion was amusing, and Artemis would have left her to it, had she not had a great deal to show Astrid what it meant to truly be a huntress. Coming out of the shadows with a smirk on her lips, Artemis admitted, "It was I." Why was it that every time she saw Astrid, the girl was ready to beat someone to a pulp? Oh, boy, I have a lot of work here. "Now put those fists down, I won't have any of that here at this time. You must learn to control your anger, girl." Artemis was one to talk.

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"You? You. You!" said the vocabulary challenged Viking. She still had both hands clenched, but had somehow managed to extend a shaking finger toward the goddess at the same time. Likely Astrid would have been more than capable of resisting Artemis under normal circumstances, but the whole exhaustion thing certainly hadn't helped. It seemed like Artemis had latched onto Astrid's restlessness and... guided it.

Which is exactly what a goddess would do.

"You!" Astrid said again, her voice raising this time, as did her hands. "You can't just...! I'm in my pajamas!"

Because that wasn't obvious already. Astrid sputtered again, before turning away from Artemis. A heavy noise of frustration tore from the girl then, and she kicked at the ground, not managing to do much, what with the lack of boots and all. The Viking spat several curses, including a handful that would make sailors' chest hairs curl, then she whirled back to Artemis.

"Well, what exactly did you want? Since it's obviously not something you could, oh, I don't know, tell me in a phone call or email, like a normal person?" okay, so those were newer technologies, and Astrid wasn't even entirely sure she could manage them, but that was besides the point. Basically, the point was simple: Astrid was mad and she wanted to hit things. Though generally speaking, those two were very closely linked.

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With every 'you' that the young warrior spit out of her mouth, Artemis' eyebrows went higher and higher. She was extremely amused with the situation, actually, even if Astrid was not. Artemis thought that perhaps she should do this more often, magick those with whom she'd made deals with, and meet them in the most random of random places. In their pajamas. With Astrid, though, this was a different story. Artemis didn't do this for her own amusement, but rather for training's sake.

Artemis nodded. "I can see that quite well, thank you." She came prepared. The goddess always did. She held up her arm on which she had a pair of loose pants, and a comfortably loose top to go with it. "I brought you a change, if you wanted. There is nobody here. You may dress here."

Making a face at Astrid, Artemis replied, "I do not know or like to use the modern technology, unless absolutely necessary. I prefer Speaking to someone in person." Holding out her hand, a bow appeared in Artemis' other hand. "Training. And I needed to take you by surprise, when you were not expecting to be training. It it the best way to teach someone instincts."

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Wow, was it not surprising to hear that the goddess thought it perfectly fine for Astrid to change clothing in the middle of a field. It really didn't matter if there was actually anybody there: the possibility of being spotted still loomed large over her, nearly oppressive. The Viking teen had more anger and stubbornness than shame though. She snatched the clothing from the goddess with a grunt, before stripping off her ragged clothing and working the offered garments on.

"I'm used to training at all hours," said Astrid. Her arms were sticking out of the top of the top, flailing a little comically. A few wiggles and she had it more or less dragged down onto her torso. The glare was still there, sharpening the blue eyes and turning them into daggers directed at the goddess.

"So what's the plan?" said Astrid. She was switching the pants now, tugging them on and getting them more or less fastened. Thankfully, Artemis had selected something that was near enough Astrid's size to work. The Viking wasn't sure whether it was magic, planning, or just coincidence; she and the goddess did have fairly similar builds. "You're going to throw things at me and hope I can hit them with an arrow? Sounds like a great way to end up a porcupine."

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Artemis wasn't curious enough to watch Astrid changing. She did understand the want for at least a bit of privacy. Of course, Artemis was pretty much letting the girl change in the middle of an open field, there really wasn't much privacy in that. But still. She did need to talk to Astrid somehow, and with her back turned...that just wasn't an option. She would look completely stupid.

Ignoring the glare, Artemis crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged. "Good thing too. Because we will be training at various hours, when you are least expecting it. It is part of routinely exercising your brain to have a quicker instinct and reflex than you already do," Artemis explained with a nod. She thought that perhaps she would indeed like to teach someone her ways. A mortal, nonetheless, too. There was quite a difference between teaching an immortal and a mortal. Mortals tended to be slower to learn, but there was a chance that this one was swifter.

Glancing at Astrid's appearance, up and down, Artemis decided that she was well enough dressed for some archery. It was always best to wear fit clothing, not too tight, not too loose. "Of course not. Do you take me for an idiot?" the goddess inquired, narrowing her eyes at Astrid. She did not appreciate the attitude. "If you have the patience, I can simply show you what we are going to do. Do not be quick to suppose, because you will most likely end up looking stupid."

Artemis waved a hand over the far end of the field, and about five targets lined up in front of them. She held out a hand, and her own bow and quiver of arrows appeared, then had another set appear in her other hand, which she handed to Astrid. "There are not your regular kind of arrows and the bow is slightly different that what you are used to, but if you learn how to master my bows and arrows, then you truly have proven yourself." Pointing to the farthest target from herself, Artemis set up an arrow on her bow. "Simply try to get the bullseye." She shot and hit it perfectly. It could not be more exact.

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"Sounds just like home," murmured Astrid. She was finishing putting on the clothes, adjusting them to fit her lanky frame. This also meant yanking her hair back and twisting it into something of a functional braid. Meanwhile, she'd looked around, following instructions and suggestions.

why wasn't she surprised to hear that they were going to learn archery? Astrid wanted very much to point out that she was not, in fact, an archery specialist, nor did she have any desire to be one. However, her brief experience had already taught her that you had better luck reasoning with dragons than you did gods and goddesses.

"You do realize that archery isn't going to be helpful for what I'm here to become?" she asked, not quite able to keep everything in. She's already taken the bow and was testing its pull: her arm going back and nearly touching her cheek. It took nearly all Astrid had to pull it back, and she was known for being well built for her sex and age. She lowered it with some struggle, her eyes squinting down.

"Bullseye, right. That's doable," she reached in, pulled an arrow out, and notched it. Her brain had already dismissed most of the fuzziness, and her vision was sharp. Years of Viking training had at least left her sharp enough for that. Would she be able to get a bullseye? In one shot? Not hardly. she released anyway, already knowing that the arrow was going to sink in some distance from the ordered bullsye.

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Artemis kept a careful eye on the young warrior. It didn't look like she very much wanted to be in the field at this time. Of course, when did Artemis ever ask anyone where they want to be? Astrid had struck a deal with the goddess, and so, Artemis was going to make sure the deal was followed through, on both sides. She promised to train this girl, and therefore, the girl was going to listen to what she had to say.

Honestly, Artemis did not care that Astrid was not here to learn archery or whatever else she would teach the young warrior. All that she cared about was training her. "Well, what are you here to become, Astrid?" Artemis inquired, thinking that perhaps knowing what Astrid was learning could be to her advantage. Either way, the entire set-up was to her advantage. Every deal she ever made was always for her benefit, and often did, in fact, benefit the other person. This greatly was to Artemis' benefit, however. Her companions did like to have an occasional human mortal to play around with.

Not that Artemis would allow the girls to play with Astrid. Astrid was special. She could see that the girl was special. She had so much potential, not even ten of the most skilled archers in Trenale could sum up to the amount of determination and potential that Astrid had. And Artemis recognized this. She could use someone like this. And if not, at least prepare the girl for her own self. She could do great things if she put her mind to it, and stopped having such a temper all the time.

"Doable, indeed," Artemis said with a nod, but really knew that Astrid would not hit the bullseye. Only the best could, and if Astrid missed hitting Artemis in a tree with an arrow, then a bullseye was hopeless for now. Sure enough, she hadn't even hit the target. Close, but not quite. Oh, boy. Artemis was going to need to get a lot of time on her hands. She picked up her own bow and arrow, and set up her position for shooting. "Look. See my arm? All the way up at an angle. You need a firm grip and your wrist should be tight, yet relaxed, or else it'll go crooked when you release. Your left arm should hold the bow firmly." She released, and the arrow went in the dead-set middle.

Nodding at Astrid, she handed her another arrow. "Try it again. This time, concentrate with your head and not your ego," Artemis informed her, and got behind her as she helped a little with the angle Astrid's arm should be at. The girl had it.

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"I'm here to become a Viking, a Dragon-Slayer," said Astrid, her voice hard, the determination practically radiating off of her. This was a girl who'd dedicated most of her life toward one aim, one goal. She'd been the star of her village for that very fact: she embodied the Viking ideals. it probably helped that she was attractive as well, not that Astrid ever paid attention to it. No, it was her skills that she relied upon, and her skills that she expected people to take notice of and respect.

Not so much now though. Astrid bit back a groan as she watched the arrow sink in some distance from the target. She was pulling left; she had to do something about that. There had to be a trick of some--- oh Hel, the goddess was talking again, lecturing, actually.

"I know how to shoot a bow," said Astrid, turning to face Artemis. "Remember? We met while hunting for game in a forest? I was shooting a bow then?"

She turned back to the target, her anger still bubbling up. Shoot with her head, not her ego. Where did a goddess get off lecturing about ego? Pot; Kettle, much? Astrid forced herself to take a deep breath as she drew up the next arrow. Despite herself, she found herself going over Artemis' words, adjusting her grip slightly. She also remembered her own bit: pulling left. taking all that into account, Astrid fired:

and it would at least connect this time, a good deal more to the right and certainly within the actual target at least.

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A Viking. Artemis expected that much, since the girl just about screamed it out ever since they met in the woods. A Dragon-slayer? Well, Artemis wasn't thinking quite that far ahead. But she had been thinking of things Vikings do that wouldn't require bows and arrows. Dragon-slaying, however, was a little far down the list. She should have known. Hadn't Astrid mentioned something about dragons, anyway? Artemis didn't know much about Vikings or the Norse, just what little Hel had told her of, but she knew they were a vicious people, hence, Astrid.

"A Dragon-slayer, my my," Artemis answered with a look of approval. A girl who wanted to kill such creatures was quite the honorable kind. Artemis did not know very much of dragons at all, except of the ones that she'd encountered on Mount Olympus, but those were all pretty much conjured up by evil. Killing them was fairly easy. Real ones, however, might be a bit more difficult. What did Artemis know?

Artemis twisted to glance at Astrid again, appearing as if she would snarl at her for questioning her judgment. But she didn't. Instead, Artemis gave her a knowing look. For a goddess, she was being unusually calm. "I know you were, dear, but the fact that you hadn't shot the game before me means you actually needed to concentrate. It should become a part of your blood, to the point where you merely shoot and know where the arrow will end. And I saw how you attempted to shoot at me. You were....no offense, but very off. And that could be due to a mere inch off-tilt of an elbow or your hand," Artemis explained softly, almost a little too calmly. Which was so very weird.

Artemis watched carefully as Astrid seemed to actually concentrate on everything said. She wasn't a mind-reader, but she could swear she heard her own words echoing in the quiet of the morning. Come on, Astrid, you can do it... Well...maybe she'd muttered that under her breath as well as think it. Either way, Artemis had a lot of faith in Astrid. The girl had so much potential, it was overflowing already. It was all a matter of having that potential trained.

The arrow flew and hit the target. Granted, it wasn't all that near the bullseye, but it was a lot better than the last one. "Good!" Artemis jumped. "That was very good, Astrid! You still need to just...let loose before you shoot. Not tense up. It may not even feel like you're tensing up, but I can see it; feel it."

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"My entire village slays dragons," said Astrid, her voice nearly haughty. "It's been the tradition for Berk for as far back as any Viking there remembers."

Astrid nearly launched into an explanation about how she was the best within her age group. That would be bragging, which Astrid wasn't exactly opposed to, in the strictest sense. However, she was a much greater fan of letting her actions show. They usually did. This time seemed to be no different, as her shot was markedly improved. The Viking teen even smirked at that, shifting her stance slightly and her grip, already doing her own calculations.

Of course, Artemis had to chime in with her own advice. Again, Astrid's mouth opened, a comeback ready upon her lips, and again, she bit it back, almost literally this time. Artemis was the goddess of shooting a bow. Not listening to her when she offered advice ranked among the stupidest things you could do. Astrid was many things; stupid was not among them.

So she did it all over again. Aimed, pulled back, took care to judge the wind and her own tendency to pull; then just at the last moment, she relaxed and released. The arrow hit the target, again, and this time, a good several inches closer. Without a word, Astrid pulled out another arrow, following through with the motion smoothly. The next shot wasn't any better, but it grouped next to the former, even making the first arrow quiver.

Now Astrid was really smirking.

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Artemis gave Astrid a nod of recognition. "I won't lie, that's impressive that a girl like you should slay dragons," she replied. "And dragons have not run out since the traditions have started? One would begin to think that perhaps they have begun to go extinct with so much slaying of their kind."

Taking note of the girl's actions, Artemis waited and watched to see what the young warrior would do next, now that the goddess had given her a few more instructions. Artemis wouldn't scold. Why should she scold if it would accomplish nothing with Astrid? Best be patient and be understanding that a human could not possibly possess the gifts that an immortal goddess could.

Astrid seemed to be doing her best to heed Artemis' advice, and the goddess much appreciated that and found it wise that the girl listened. If Astrid was patient as well, and listened to what Artemis was instructing, then the lessons would subside quickly and soon, Astrid would be able to hunt under Artemis' guidance in the forests.

The arrows kept hitting the preferred destination closer and closer with each time they flew. Artemis was truly impressed with this. Astrid's next arrow flew very close to the bullseye, and Artemis thought that this lesson went a lot better than she expected. "I'm impressed with you, Astrid. You've got a lot more in you than people see," Artemis praised for a little bit. "You could easily become your village's best warrior if you continued putting your mind to things before letting your anger take over."

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"They breed," said Astrid, her voice filled with the venom of the perpetual victim. "They breed and they run away to wherever it is they come from."

Just thinking about the dragons made Astrid's gut clench. She was here to learn to be a better fighter, a better dragon slayer. A few years at this school, and she'd be able to head back to her village and show them all. Especially if she kept getting training from gods, which seemed to be her lot. That only made the smirk all the more confident.

"There's no become; I am the best," she said. She was already drawing another arrow. It clearly wasn't empty bragging: her next shot, while no better, landed close enough to her last to rustle its fletchings. Already the girl was drawing out another arrow, letting her muscles get used to the routine and the motion. Draw, notch, pull, release, and another arrow sunk near the other two. Astrid had that eerie consistency that showed way too much focus and training.

"And I'm going to be one of the best warriors here," she said. She lowered the bow, looked to the target, nodded, then turned to Artemis. "Why do you think I agreed to apprentice under you? For the perks?"

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Right. Breeding. Artemis knew that. Of course she did. Dragons bred like any other living creature did. Eggs, right? How strange. It wasn't something Artemis heard of every day. She might now, now that she had taken Astrid to train her. "Surely not all dragons are bad, are they? Do they all need to be killed?" Artemis was asking as though she didn't know. She didn't. The Greeks didn't know every single thing in the world. But they could ask questions.

The girl was really determined to be the best at this. It would never happen. The best among humans, perhaps. But nobody would beat Artemis, because no mortal could ever achieve the length of years Artemis had lived. And no mortal was born knowing all of this. Artemis' forte was the bow and arrow, but she wasn't bad with knives and spears either. Not infallibly good, but above average, either way. With a little pushing, Astrid might actually be the best warrior in Trenale. In a lot of places, actually.

Ah, there was the compliment. It was much appreciated. Always a good thing to compliment a goddess. Flattery with a god got one...everywhere, really. "Well. You certainly chose right. You could easily become the second best archer here if you weren't so rash. Skill also comes with character, something I will also help you with. Just a little."

"I should take you on a hunt the next time I go. See how it's really done."

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The bit about not all dragons being bad made Astrid give Artemis a funny look. Surely the goddess must be joking or something? Dragons were bad; they destroyed things. That was pretty much how they worked. you might as well ask if not all dogs barked or not all squirrels ate nuts. She thought about making a comment, could even feel it bubbling up within her, but decided it probably wasn't a good idea to squabble with the goddess over it. There were more important manners at hand.

Like training.

It did occur to Astrid that she was never going to be quite as good as the gods and goddesses at what she did, and she only cared so much. She was going to be the best at what she could be, and it wouldn't be pretty if anyone got in her way. If not, well, she supposed she could do what was needed as second best...

"Yeah, well, maybe," she said, looking down at the bow and arrow, "but I'm not really looking to be an awesome archer, remember? Whoever heard of a dragon being taken out by an arrow?" Astrid barked a laugh at that, raising her head to look down range. "But hunting sounds good. I totally need to go hunting again. You threw me off last time."

She was already reaching for another arrow, going through the motions that were quickly becoming routine all over again.