[event: flashback]

[clocktowering]

Once upon a time, the people of Storybrooke were once the characters from the fairy tales we all grew up with. Then the curse hit and everyone was trapped without their memories in the town we know quite well already.

We all know that story, of course, but what about before the curse? Well, that's where this post comes in. There are untold stories from before the curse that we would like to investigate and these flashbacks posts are where you tell them. Post with your character (with a location or plot idea if you wish) and tag others, as long as they are in their fairy tale forms (sorry Henry and Emma players >: ).

Remember, everyone, play nice and have fun.

Comments

[pettythief]

Swords? [ Pssht. ] Is that all? I assume if I win, then it's everything for me.

Robin... Maybe you should think about this a little more.

[ What? Et tu, John? Robin turns toward his companion and furrows his brow. ]

What for?

You know what for. Your Highness! If I may suggest... how about a three-part duel?

[ John, what are you doing, stop that. Robin has it under control! (No, he doesn't. Showing off is a great weakness of his, and John is all too aware. Even if the prince is all talk, two-out-of-three simply gives Robin a larger margin for error should he overestimate himself.) ]

[ultimateleatherarmour]

[If this man is anything like his reputation, he has reason for being cocky--but from what James has heard, he's a little too cocky to begin with. James takes a moment to consider this new proposal.]

That depends on what you had in mind for the other parts.

[pettythief]

Archery. [ What, you didn't think Robin would let these two talk out the details without some of his own input, did you? Besides, what duel would be complete without an archery contest? ]

Like he said. Archery, and... a race.

A race?

Yes, a race. I hardly see any other option, considering the materials on hand.

[ ... point made. Robin shrugs in agreement. ]

[ultimateleatherarmour]

What sort of race?

[Archery. From what James saw of the man's draw, Robin was going to beat him there. It would come down to the third contest. He should probably refuse ... and yet part of him doesn't want to. This is, well, exciting. He can understand why Philip enjoys travel if this is what he does.]

[pettythief]

A race by steed.

Steed? If you haven't noticed, we don't—

[ Clop-clop-clop-clop, clop-clop-clop-clop... Robin shuts up, turning his head far enough to see the forms of two horses and their riders approaching from down the road. One is almost definitely one Robin recognizes, and so he allows himself to relax. ]

Did you hear them coming?

I guessed, actually.

[ ... well, it's better than John outdoing Robin at his very own forestry game. ]

[ultimateleatherarmour]

[Well, Robin knows the forest and the best riding routes. On the other hand, the forest is too thick to making riding horses often very practical, so Robin may be rusty. James doesn't have Thomas's skill at riding, but he's no slouch either and he does it regularly.]

I accept your terms. I'm coming out now--and I'd like my dagger back, if you happen to know where it went.

[So saying, he sheathes his sword, with a deliberately audible ring so they know he's doing so, and cautiously steps out behind the tree--on John's side, more than Robin's, so he still has a bit of cover if the arrow still flies.]

[pettythief]

Afraid I lost track of it after it went through my arm.

[ His aim holds steady. Only when he sees that James is unarmed does he lower the bow and loosen his hold, although he's not dumb enough to put his weapon away just yet. ]

Great. As soon as my men arrive, we'll set up targets and get this started.

[ultimateleatherarmour]

Oh, did it? Sorry about that; I was trying to get you to dodge.

[Or something else, as long as it kept Robin from shooting him. He hadn't really aimed to kill, though--hadn't taken enough time to make sure of his aim. The prince moves out from behind the tree, but his hand is still on the hilt of his sword and he eyes them both warily--if ruefully.]

You've got a fast draw, Robin.

[pettythief]

Yeah, well, you did a pretty bad job of that. [ Robin spares a quick glance toward the torn fabric lazily soaking up the trickling blood. He'll have to get that looked at sometime soon, but for now the sting helps him focus, rather than the blood loss fuzzing him up.

He grins at the acknowledgment, turning back up to James. ] The fastest.

[ultimateleatherarmour]

I was distracted. I had an arrow pointed at my face.

[A grin spreads a little more slowly over James's face, but is a flashing one despite its slow arrival.]

You'll need more than that to win.

[pettythief]

Oh, I know. I intend to have plenty more. How about you? Archery a big thing over at the ol' castle?

[ultimateleatherarmour]

It's enough of one.

[James isn't going to admit he's already lost that one, but oddly, he still doesn't mind.]

Do you actually use swordplay often, here, or just have people hand over their valuables under threat of arrows most of the time?

[pettythief]

Swordplay is a skill of mine. [ Not quite as much of one as his archery, yet that's something Robin isn't going to admit. He's still good with them. ] Arrows usually tend to do the trick, though.

[ It's about now that the other two men approach. One of the horses is Robin's, while the other is James'. Understandably, they seem uncertain of what to do with the standoff. Little John eyes the bandit leader and prince, then makes his way over to explain what their current situation is in hushed tones. ]

[ultimateleatherarmour]

You'll need as much of it as you can get to beat me.

[Skill, that is. James stands quietly, definitely not intending to make sudden movements now he's outnumbered four times over. Instead he eyes Robin speculatively until Little John has finished with his chat and he can be told where to go for the contests. John seems to have named himself judge, after all.]

[pettythief]

Somebody's sure of himself. [ Which is rich, considering who it comes from. He just grins to signify that he gets at least some of the irony, then tilts his head as Little John returns, sheathed sword now held loose at his side. If James pays close attention, one of the riders is now without his own weaponry — they'll be making do with borrowed arms for now. ]

We'll start with the contest of blades until the targets are set up, then the men will scout out a safe path for your race. Sound good to everybody?

Absolutely. James?

[ultimateleatherarmour]

That will be fine.

[James glances around as he unbuckles his cloak and swirls it off his shoulders, examining the ground and their surroundings. There's enough space between the trees that they can have the duel right there; the trees and the footing will simply make things interesting.

[He drapes his cloak over a convenient branch and then returns to a clearish spot to take up a position, his hand on his sword and the faintest smirk of anticipation on his mouth.]

[pettythief]

[ Robin exchanges his bow and arrow for the sword, drawing it so that he can return the sheath—there's nowhere on his outfit to properly hold it at the moment—before he follows James into the small clearing. ]

We'll go on Little John's word.

[ On cue, John steps up between them, though outside of their immediate range. ]

Both of you ready? ... Good. Begin!

[ultimateleatherarmour]

[James unsheathes his sword when Robin does, spinning it to loosen his wrist a bit, but then holds it ready, eyes on Robin's. When John calls the battle start he doesn't begin; instead he opts to let Robin lunge first, to test the other man and see how difficult a fight this will be.]

[pettythief]

[ Robin puts up his guard as soon as John starts the fight. His expression twitches as the prince's own defensive stance, then gives a small one-shouldered shrug and moves in with a testing slice. He wants to see how James handles himself before going in for a larger attack; no doubt his lack of initiative has some sort of meaning behind it. ]

[ultimateleatherarmour]

[And James responds, defensive but testing and quite clearly untaxed by Robin's attack. Part of it is pure affectation, but not that much, really. His sword lashes out once or twice, testing Robin's own defence, but for the most part James lets Robin set the tone and speed, watching the other man's face and reactions.]

[pettythief]

[ Robin's own reactions are quick and competent, but perhaps edging on too eager. He is more than a capable hand at swordplay, yet his true strength lies elsewhere and that's where most of his focus usually lay. He backs up for just a moment to shift his grip and goes in for a lunge.

Time to get this fight started for real before they tire themselves out on the pleasantries. ]

[ultimateleatherarmour]

[Very eager. James responds to Robin's ferocity with his own, but he deliberately opens his guard in a certain place, a certain way. It isn't obvious in the least; traps aren't any good when they're obvious. But it's there, at first an oddity, a second time a fault, a third time a pattern. If Robin's eager enough, maybe he'll take that bait.]

[pettythief]

[ Robin isn't quite that eager, but he eventually can't resist. It takes longer than just three strikes, but that opening soon becomes obvious and he strikes at it. Oh, there's attempts to keep himself guarded, but perhaps he can end this quickly. It is part of his business to show up the royalty, after all, even if this one is from the wrong kingdom. ]

[ultimateleatherarmour]

[James is patient, and the moment Robin overextends himself to take that opening he's ready. He dodges the strike easily and retaliates just as quick, taking advantage of the breach in Robin's defence the trap led him into to attempt to disarm the bandit.]

[pettythief]

[ Robin resists the disarming, locking his arm and trying to pull away while using his free one to upset James' balance. He grunts to himself, suddenly shifting into a defensive position while trying to seek out a different avenue of attack. ]