tr1ckortreat | Knife Throwing at the Viper's Pit [Nexus

Loki had been in the Nexus a good few weeks now and had gotten used to some of the locale and locals inhabiting the place. His brother was a welcome addition and even some of the mortals were not too bad considering. Yet, he felt wasted. He had to hone his skills, so he had decided to use the opportunity to frequent the Viper's Pit establishment owned by another Loki.

A knife throwing contest.

It was open to all out in the back so that people had enough room to move and spectate if they so wished. The knife throwing board was a straw target perched up with a bulls-eye painted in the middle. A standard target used by archers and knife-throwers alike. Loki also arranged for a few jugs of mead and wine to be close by so that spectators and opponents could keep themselves hydrated.

"I wonder who the first will be to reach a bulls-eye. Anyone feel up to challenging a god?"

His smirk was genuine and so were the black-hilted knives he was currently flipping into the air and catching deftly. His long digits easily finding the handle avoiding the blade effortlessly. A thousand or more years being trained in knives helped.

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Wine being such a bitter drink to Mantis, he took a mug of the mead gratefully. It's not every day you get to try alcohol so old-fashioned. With his mask just out of the way enough to drink, his small smile was easily seen.

"I may not be as good as you, but I learned how to do that years ago."

Ah, the masked man. Loki was glad his fellow leather-clad friend could make it down to the Viper's Pit this evening. The knife-throwing event was indeed popular and Loki didn't realise how much of a crowd he was steadily drawing in. He offered Mantis a smile and a curt nod.

"Evening, Mantis. I am glad you could show up to the event. You are skilled with knives?"

There was an air of surprise in Loki's voice since he had no idea the man actually enjoyed throwing blades at things--or people. The mug of mead was also a welcome sight clutched in Mantis' hand. Good. The peek of his exposed flesh caused the god to smile slightly at how comfortable his friend was in this environment.

"The trick is to get the bulls-eye in the middle. But I'm sure you know what I mean."

Loki took a sip of his red wine as his eyes flickered between Mantis and the knife-throwing board.

Edited 2020-06-10 16:21 (UTC)

"Self defense training from about ten years of age. I learned from experts in keeping people at a distance."

Mantis walks closer, letting the mead mug dance in the air around him like a butterfly. He wiped at his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket and had a look at the bard. It wasn't much of a distance. Not really. And he was drinking already, so it was a perfect time to make questionable choices.

"I might still have it in me. How many knives do you have to spare?"

"I see. Well, it seems you are more than able to fend for yourself, Mantis. I await the results from your throws with baited breath. As for the knives? Here."

He summoned a pair of green-hilted knives, offering them to his masked friend. The god's magic was infinite so could summon any knives he wanted at will. Being a god had it's advantages. It took Loki a few seconds to notice the mead mug currently dancing around Mantis like a butterfly. It seemed the man had magic talents also. How fascinating.

"That's a nice trick."

Loki pointed to the mead mug in the air and summoned his own mead mug to appear in the air beside Mantis' one, clinking together.

Mantis takes the mug back and holds it up before going for another sip. The odd and scattered nature of the Nexus was quickly beginning to make sense to him, but he was still slightly stunned by sudden appearance of knives. He leans forward slightly to better assess the knife before taking it. It was definitely real. It was definitely sharp.

"I only know a few, but the ones I have tend to be eye-catching."

He steps forward, letting the mug bob worriedly behind him as he tries to get himself lined up in front of the target. It's hardly his specialty, but he had to try. A swift shift of the hips and arm send the knife going, but it landed completely outside of of the circles.

"That... That's about right."

Loki narrowed his eyes at Mantis' throw. Perhaps, the man's focus was off since the knife had landed outside of the circle. Was he nervous? Rusty? There were a whole load of reasons why the man's throw was off and Loki wanted to prove he could do better. The floating mug of mead was proof that he did possess powers, so would he cheat? The god of mischief would not throw Mantis out if he did, since he'd do the same if he were losing.

"Don't worry. You can try again. I know you can do better than that, Mantis."

Words of encouragement? Perhaps. The man was new to the Nexus and Loki had come to respect the masked man a friend in many ways. Maybe it was the fact the he could wear leather with the best of them and then there was the mask aspect. Loki just ached for him to take it off one day and reveal the true man underneath. His eyes flickered back to the throwing board, wondering if Mantis' next throw would indeed be better.

"Perhaps another drink for courage?"

Rustier than wet iron left out to oxidize. Mantis was never the one expected to actually stab people, but he could take a stab at it when the moment called for it. He narrowed his eyes and nodded, pulling the mask up to take a very long drink from the current mug. He missed drinking. Not enough to dive head first into alcoholism, but definitely enough that he's going to have some real fun.

"I can. I'm going to." He hands the mug to Loki and holds out one hand. The knife shook a little before flying off the board and back into his palm. He looked at Loki and nodded. "Another drink. I'm not leaving until I get this right."

There was an unspoken caveat that he might get a little too drunk to pull it off, but he was more than ready to face that possibility. Mantis was starting to really feel alive again. He hefted the knife and took aim again. The knife landed a little closer, in the most outer ring. It was all right, but not good enough.

The god wasn't about to deny the man another go and another drink was obviously called for at this stage in the game. If it helped sharpen Mantis' hand and eye then surely it couldn't go amiss to ply the man with as many drinks as he so wished.

"That's more like it."

Loki readied another mug of mead for Mantis, summoning the jug to tip a fair amount of mead into both their mugs. Always handy to have a magic jug filled with booze when things got tough. A knife throwing contest was the perfect occasion to use said magic. He offered Mantis an encouraging smile and sipped some mead from his vessel.

"I bet you can get a bulls-eye, Mantis. Just imagine someone or something you don't like."

He spoke the words close to the other man, leaning over his shoulder for a brief moment.

Edited 2020-06-28 15:04 (UTC)

Mantis felt a little shiver at a voice so close to his ear, but it sent a mental image straight to his mind. Even though it had been a deliberate move, he was still mad at a certain someone years later. He took the mental image and projected it forward. Solid Snake kneeling and bloodied up. Wincing as the knife came back to his hand.

"I don't blame him at all for fighting me the way he did, but I'll be damned before we ever make some kind of peace."

Arm draws back. Blade goes flying. If it had really been Solid Snake in front of him, it would have been in the arm. Second ring, but not quite a bull's eye.

"We got into a fight. I was supposed to let him win and he decided to kill me. We're on the same side of life, but I'll never talk to him."

Knife Throwing at the Viper's Pit [Nexus_Crossings]

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