[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vHlk0a2.png[/img][/center]

[color=9AF781]Time: Morning, 10am
Location: Shooting Range
Interactions: Ezra [@Potter] 
Mentions: Nahir [@Rodiak]
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[color=CBCBCB]Leo had given a smile and returned the sentiment when Nahir had wished him luck. He’d been wondering if he should ask how she was after last night's bizarre party, immediately apologize for suggesting said party, or simply refrain from mentioning the disaster of last night, when he’d heard his name being called. 

[color=D55F81]“Hey, Leo,[/color] Leo sized up the man who spoke, his competition was the baker from yesterday’s ball, hardly someone worth having a conversation with but he headed over to him anyhow. 

[color=D55F81]I’d wish you luck but I heard you may not need it. I’ve heard great things about your kingdom. And how quick your mother got over your dad’s death. I’d say it’s a shame, but I guess the heart wants what it wants. Your sister looks like she’s taking it well though. Looks great today.”[/color] Ezra’s words hissed out, a venom that only aggravated old wounds. Leo paused to look around as if confused for a moment before whispering back to the baker.

[color=9AF781]“And where might your family be seated? How strange, I don’t see anyone here to cheer for you. No parents, no siblings, and not a single man or woman around who seems to want your pitiful name on their lips. That’s awfully sad, to be loved by no one.”[/color] Leo made a show of smiling widely as he returned the less-than-friendly goading. 

The first round began, Leo notched the arrow and pulled back. 

[i]Inhale. 
Exhale. 
Release.[/i]

The arrow soared striking the target’s red inner ring. A respectable score of seven points, not a bad first go. [color=9AF781][i]Not bad is not good enough.[/i][/color] The process repeated, Leo focused only on that centered golden circle in the target, this time only hitting the middle blue ring for five points. [color=9AF781][i]How dare he mention my mother. A nobody. What does he even know? Nothing, that’s what, well maybe how to bake a shitty cake...[/i][/color] Another arrow left his bow, another falter, and it struck only an outer black ring. Only three points, he was getting worse. [color=9AF781][i]Keep it up Leo, disappoint Varian, start now and they’ll be used to it later.[/i][/color] His fourth arrow found its way back to the red ring for another seven points. [color=orangered][i]Smithwood’s do not celebrate mediocrity, Leo.[/i][/color] His first round was average, and even though it had been better than Ezra’s first round, it did not feel like a victory. He should've done better, he was here representing both Stravy and Varian, in a foreign city after all. 

He fared worse in the next round as his first arrow hit nothing. The second and third arrow both found their way to the blue ring. The fourth arrow faired better, striking the red ring. Ezra had taken the lead as far as the points went, and Leo found it more difficult to focus on anything more than how irritating it would be to lose to Ezra. 

The final round began, and his first arrow hit the outer black ring. Two more arrows missed their mark completely. There would be no win for Leo, and sure, he disliked losing, and had this been a friendly competition, it would be no big deal. He had not figured he’d be winning this contest, there were several here whose skill outmatched him even on his best day, but losing to a snide weasel-faced baker was what left him feeling bitter. There was nothing friendly here, Leo hated Ezra as soon as the baker had opened his mouth and he only hoped the time would come where they could settle things in a far less public forum and in a far less civilized way. 

His last arrow, one sent flying without a thought, having already resigned to the loss, struck the middle of the target, a bullseye in the golden circle. There was no pride in that shot, just further proof that he wasted his potential.

He held up his composure as he turned to Ezra and offered a simple bow as the baker was announced as the winner. Poor sportsmanship was not a flattering look for a nobleman so he did his best to look cordial. Ezra’s win had been fair, and it wasn’t as if Leo had placed any bets on this contest. [color=9AF781]“Congratulations.”[/color] He said nothing further to Ezra, and the farther he walked away the less he could see the weasel-like features of the other man’s face. That only made the archery range a far more pleasant place and he reminded himself that he was now freed up to get something to eat and to enjoy watching the other matches.[/color]