prismatica | video; u/n lynx

Entry tags:

video; u/n lynx

Once I get the space together, I'm starting a self-defense class.

[ The video starts showing Ash in front of a simple apartment wall. ]

Shouldn't need a lot of explanation. You pay me, I'll teach you how to fight. It doesn't matter how big or small you are, if you're a man or a woman. There'll be handgun lessons, too. Not at the same time; if you can roundhouse while firing a gun, you're not there for the class.

Payment can be chroma or demichroma. If it's chroma, it has to be transferred through our hands. If you know what you're doing and looking for a place to pass that along, I'll take on a few more teachers and a nurse or two. I'll have to see your stuff first.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Good to know. If we get raided, we have a built-in escape route.

[ He's not serious, but he things Faust is probably the kind to assume he is. Then again, he hasn't known the guy very long.

Reaching behind him, Ash lifts his shirt slightly to produce not one, but two guns; it's why he wears a belt. ]

It's a simple handgun. Common. Try the feel.

[ Keeping one for himself, the other is passed along. ]

[The sniper does indeed seem to take the idea seriously, nodding solemnly. He's never really lived anywhere without being in constant danger and having to fight tooth and nail for survival so it's hard to get out of that mindset, even here.

Faust looks at the gun before shifting his oversized jacket aside to produce his crossbow from where it was secured, placing it carefully on the ground. It's a single-shot crossbow with a mounted scope and a few other modifications, but for the most part it looks fairly unspectacular. Of course the weapon's power comes more from its owner than the bow itself.

With that set aside the takes the handgun from Ash, immediately noting the difference in weight compared to how compact it looks. He's seen Sankta use guns so he somewhat knows how one should be held generally speaking, but it's still very odd to feel for himself.]

The weight and balance are pretty different. [He tries to adjust his grip a little to get a better feel.]

Lesson 1: never point it at anything you're not planning to shoot.

[ Ash allows his arm to fall to his side, barrel facing the floor. ]

If you're holding a gun, you've got to always know where it's pointing. It becomes second nature eventually, but you got to get there first.

[ Says the guy who uses a barrell to wake people up. Do as he says, not as he does. ]

Finger off the trigger until we're ready to use it. Keep your fingers firm on the grip. People've died because of dropped guns.

[Oh, that makes sense. Faust is careful to follow suit, keeping the barrel trained downwards like Ash does and making sure to keep his finger away from the trigger. It's similar logic to what he's used to but he's still not going to act flippantly with a weapon he doesn't know as well.]

How many rounds does this hold?

[He knows that different types of gun can hold different amounts and varieties of ammunition but he's always just been accustomed to dealing with one bolt at a time.]

That one holds 18, 17 of them's in the magazine and one's in the chamber. Most guns will count the one in the chamber so if you hear 13, assume 12 in the magazine, one in the chamber. That's good to know if somebody grabs the gun and removes the magazine, assuming it's gonna disarm you. If they don't fire a shot, you usually still got one chance.

Glock 17. Handgun. It's what we call semi-automatic, which means it gets rid of the casing and loads the next one until the magazine's empty or it jams, but that's not as likely to happen as it used to be.

If you grab a gun and it has the word 'machine' or 'automatic' in it, that means it's a different kind. They're called automatic guns. A semi fires a single shot for every pull of the trigger, but an automatic fires more per pull. The third kind's manual, which means you got to do everything manually after every shot. You'll usually see it in shotguns. Bowguns would count, too.

For now, we'll stick to semi-auto. They're the kind you're most likely to find, anyway.

[Faust nods once in a while, listening to Ash and clearly taking everything in as solemnly as he seems to do with everything. There's something almost familiar and reassuring about learning about weapons again, in not being expected to navigate the more social and "normal" side of this place. W would probably scold him if she finds out, though.

He only speaks up again once the blonde has finished his explanation, punctuating it with another nod.]

I'm used to manual. [Of course reloading a gun would be different but he's used to the concept and timing in the heat of battle.]

What's the range? Usually it isn't a problem with my crossbow but I don't know if I can enhance weapons here the same since the materials are different so if I'm going to have to get closer than normal I want to know.

Open air, the official range is about 50 meters. It's still going to travel further than that, and do more damage the closer you are, but like an arrow, it's going to be less effective outside of that range.

Other stuff can slow it down, but it takes a lot. As a general rule, semis are the everyday use. It's faster than a manual but most manuals have a lot more power. They're still strong enough that unless something is far enough away or made from really strong stuff, it's going to puncture. But like distance, if it has to travel through something, it's going to lose power. An open shot's the best bet, but something's not safe just because it's behind a wall.

[ To Ash, this is every day life. He's willing to bet that's not unique to him. ]

I see, that make sense.

[He wonders if his Arts would allow him to effect a bullet's range even without any Originium in the weapon. Part of what had made him a force to be reckoned with back home was being able to hit anything regardless of the usual restrictions of the weapon or surroundings. But... Should he even be worrying about that here? It's not like he exactly wants to pick back up his mantle as a sniper but he also just wants to be prepared.]

Is there anything else I should know?

Right now? No. When we start the lessons, we'll go someplace else, a place with more room and fewer people since treating gunshot wounds is an entirely different class.

How long you been shooting the bow?

[Faust isn't necessarily surprised about getting some questions, but he is a little surprised that it took this long. Oh well.]

A couple years. I trained with all sorts of people but I guess you could say that the bow was what ended up suiting me.

By all sorts, you mean all kinds of weapons.

[ Guns wasn't among them, it seems. ]

Were swords one of them?

[Oddly specific, but he doesn't comment.]

There were some of the others who used swords but mostly I just sparred against them.

[ The question has a purpose. Ash gets his answer, and then he decides to drop it. It's not the reply that can further said purpose. ]

Give me an idea of what days you're free for the gun training. I'll set up a range. Of cans. Beginner's practice doesn't have to be fancy.

[Another nod. Debris or whatever things could be "borrowed" and shot at were the sorts of practice targets available back home so he has no complaints about the lack of flair. He prefers it that way, really.]

Any day. There isn't much for me to do here.

[His existence here is solitary and while he didn't really take joy in the work he did before he does miss the learning. And maybe if he can eventually get to a point where he can help someone- anyone- here... Well. That would be more good than he did in Reunion.]

[ It's understandable. They all went from their worlds with their lives and everything that they had built or created to a new world where almost everyone was a stranger. Ash knows all of their time is limited which doesn't encourage them to create new lives here. ]

Give me a couple of days. I'll set something up, and then we'll get started. I plan on opening this place up in about a month. I'll need you to be ready to teach by then.

[While Faust doesn't doubt that their time here is limited in some way he also knows that he quite literally has nothing to return to in Terra. This is it for him.

Where before his expression was stoic and unreadable it now takes on a stern certainty that's well beyond the years of the age he seems to be.]

All right. But when we start don't worry about holding back, I can handle it. I'll be ready.

[ A grin spreads across his face. ]

How do you think people usually hold back in gun practice? Even if I don't, you're not gonna be the target.

There are ways. But you couldn't hit me anyway.

[It's hard to tell if he's trying to joke or be playful, especially since the claim is delivered with that same unreadable expression.]

Pretty big bet for somebody who hasn't seen me shoot yet.

[ Ash is usually prone to allowing his own sarcastic tone to show, and that's especially true here. Sadly, it seems like most people take him seriously, even when he's not serious. While he's capable of hitting a target he can't see, it's impossible to tell what else Faust can do. ]

I look forward to seeing it soon, then.

[And he's actually being genuine there. While Faust is very confident in his skills he isn't egotistical. There are very few who have ever managed to best him in battle and even fewer when it comes to firearms specifically, so when someone can he respects it.]

Was there anything else you needed from me?

[ Perhaps they're similar there, though Ash has also come to accept his impressive record is less impressive in a world where magic is possible. No matter how much he trains, he'll still just be human. ]

Contact info. I plan to be up and running in a month.

[Faust nods, looking to his device and wordlessly messing with it for a few moments before finally glancing back towards Ash.]

I sent you where I'm staying. Just contact me privately over the network when you need me.

[ A few press of the buttons assure he received the information. ]

Then expect to hear back from me in about a month.

[ With a smirk, he offers a hand. ]

Let's make sure we do this right.

[For a second the sniper pauses when the hand is offered. The concept of other people willingly touching him- and even being able to do so- is still a little... Well. New.

But he only falters for a split-second before hiding it and shaking Ash's hand.]

Agreed.

[ There's the usual surge of chroma that comes with every touch, but it doesn't last long enough for a very strong effect. Ash withdraws his hand, the agreement made. ]

Then, I'll be in touch.

(no subject)

spectralsnipe - 2020-09-21 17:11 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only