Apr 07 03:19:51 108 PA - Discussion of Instruction
From Chronicles
Apr 07 03:19:51 108 PA.
PLAZA PARK
The eastern horizon is just beginning to be tinged with colors of red, orange, and gold. Meanwhile, Winter has finally broken her hold on the city, and gentle gusts blow around the new leaves of the year that are just perking up the the trees that had been bare only days before. Despite what the weathergirl on Channel 5 says, the temperatures aren't that bad. Off near the lake, standing near its shore, but not quite on it, is Gabriel, looking quite casual. His standard outer jacket is off at the moment, hanging over his left shoulder off of a finger that's acting as a hook. He seems to be gazing randomly at the sky, whistling quietly to himself.
Along the lake a two legged one eyed bright red lizard runs. Certainly not an expected part denizen but there none the less. Chasing after a particularly panicked and unlucky dragonfly. The epitome of unlucky as the lizard catches it with a leaping chomp that audible crunches the insect. This doesn’t slow it down though, the lizard continues it sprint right up a nearby tree. Where upon inspection and armored figure can be seen perched.
A long time past, that would have seemed strange. But not really anymore. No, Gabriel just watches the creature run in, makes sure that he's ready to get out of its way, and watches it scurry up the tree. However, as it's a lizard, he apparently doesn't feel the need to really anthropomorphize too greatly. "Hey, Spitty. Quiet a feat catching that dragonfly." Well, probably not, but it's still polite. "I know that you're the dive bomber to Miss Valeriya's aircraft carrier. She around?" He'll turn and gaze, not intending to be taken by surprise on such a nice morning.
"I'm around." Valeriya replies from her perch though doesn’t yet move. The reply sounds a bit tired like she just woke up. The lizard pays no heed to Gabriel or its mistress, perching on a branch to enjoy its well earned breakfast.
"Oh, hey," Gabriel says, raising his hand up to the tree. "Looks like you've made yourself comfortable. Kind of early in the day for armor, though, isn't it? Haven't slept yet?" His voice carries with it a curious tone, and he swaps shoulders that he's hanging his coat from. "Still thinking on the little Minnesota thing, or have you moved on? I know I still have questions."
"Armor's practical in this city for someone like myself. Don’t need to make myself more recognizable then necessary." Valeriya replies before shaking her head slightly. "Slept here, fresh air did me good." She states before rocking forward to consider her descent. A second rock and she jumps, her hands catching a lower branch before she drops to the ground. "There will always be questions. When you have answers is when things get interesting."
There's a nod. "You sleep in the city, in trees? I sleep out in the forest, but I found my own little spot to call my own. But, if you're happy, you're happy. Who am I to ask" Gabriel shrugs once more. "I do like the fresh air. But to get back to the subject of me *needing* some answers, do you have any idea what that gray-turtle-spiked thing was that I blew away? That second knight said something about teaming up with a corrupt something. I can think of a lot of corrupt things, but I would never have thought of that ugly bastard turtle thing."
Valeriya shakes her head, doing some stretches to work out the kinks sleeping in a tree is sure to bring. "I sleep wherever I find myself when I am tired. Tree, rooftop, whatever's handy. And I never got a good look at that one so I can't really say. The other ones though were corrupt. They were once human, and can look human. But magic is used to twist their bodies into something more akin to demons. They can be rather tough but those two weren't," She explains as she finishes her stretches before slipping off her helmet.
"You heard anything more from Bennet? I'm looking for some payout, I'm pretty short on cash." Gabriel wiggles an arm a tad, doing some shaking-out himself and clearing his throat. His drawl is in full swing today. "First time I ever used that rifle, y'know. Modified it myself for sharpshooting, but didn't exactly have the opportunity. Sure Taz would've appreciated it, but larger matters seemed to be at hand. Anyway," he pauses shortly, "Everyone looked at me strange after I blew the man's hand off. Why? I thought mages needed their hands to cast spells. I mean, that's the whole point behind another little issue in which I'm involved."
Valeriya says, "Our payment was the rifle, hammer and whatever else we salvaged. I'm getting the rifle appraised so I can give you guys what I owe in credits after my share. You'll have to ask Taz about his plans for the hammer." She explains with a shrug before cocking her head at Gabriel. "Why so short? As for shooting the other hand, you weren’t overly out of line. Sebastien can be a bit dramatic you may recall. It wasn’t necessary but I don’t think it hurt anything other than your ammo supply. He probably died from shock moment after I cut the one arm off. I considered doing what you did, but decided it unnecessary as the tear gas was also impeding him." She states with a shrug as she clips her helmet on to her hip. She and Gabe are by the lake. A handfull of trees loom by in the dawn of early morning.
"That's good. Really have to track down Taz though so that we all get our share. Got a feeling that he's going to hang onto it - I don't blame him - and not be too interested in a kind appraisal like you're doing." His face then breaks into a grin, and he shakes his head side-to-side swiftly. "Okay, I've really been hanging off, not wanting to intrude - but what's with the lizard?" Gabriel's eyes are entirely questioning.
"Maybe, that will between you an him really. I have my share so I won't be looking for any recompense for the rest of you. I'll split the quoted value I get in five and give a portion to each of you and that will be even." She states with a shrug. Actually it's rather honest and open for what may have been observed of her character. Maybe she has some morals after all. "What about it?" She asks in reference to the lizard, still perched in the tree.
Gabriel shrugs. "I've never seen a pet lizard before. I've seen iguanas and Komodo dragons, various other types of large lizards, but never a large red one with one eye, that spits acid and seems to be very attentive to its owner. Never seen that kind of devotion in a reptile, y'know?" He smiles and nods toward Spitz. "I'm just curious. I have a friend with a bird 'familiar' and I'm not too understanding of that, either. But I get him a little. But not Spitz." Another shrug.
"You're misunderstanding of it is rather similar to your misunderstanding of me. You see parts but not the whole." She remarks before clicking her tongue. The red lizard skitters down the tree and over to Val to climb up her leg and curl up inside the helmet. "Odd as there are many animals similar to it on this world. Dogs being perhaps the closest comparison. Mine can spit, about the only difference. Though it is much more robust than even a human it couldn’t really survive weapons fire so I don’t consider it much stronger." She notes before gaining a sly smirk. "But I imagine your question goes deeper than what Spitz is. Rather why I have the creature at all. Yes?" She asks of Gabriel as they stand by the lake with the sun dawning on them.
Gabriel smiles softly and shakes his head, "Actually what I asked was pretty much the question. I just wonder what he is. I'd like to know why you hang out with him, but that's your business to share, not mine to intrude and ask. At least, not to ask unless we become closer friends. That would be rude of me." He bows and offers a short nod. "Just as much as I haven't asked you where you're from. I observe what I can about people, as much as I can. Otherwise -" he shrugs "- I just walk around in a fog trying to learn things at the Library." He takes a moment to unhook his coat and actually don it. As he latches the silent hooks, he asks, "These knights that we had to fight, you have any ideas about what they wanted, what they were looking for? I knew that you were off while I was rambling with the villagers."
"Whatever it was, they didn’t get it. All I really know was there was nothing significantly magical there. Didn’t really have time for a deeper look into their treasury." She remarks, starting to casually walk to the parks entrance. Probably feeling hungry. "And you liked to know but would rather observe than ask. What an odd position. I understand the desire not to intrude but you are doing so anyway. Your analysis is like reading over my shoulder, yet often wrong. What good is that?"
The older man shrugs. "I ask if it's important. If it isn't something that I think's going to be very important, there's no reason to ask. Everyone likes their privacy." Gabriel moves slightly after Valeriya. "Heading out for a full day on the town?
"Don't know about a full day. Breakfast at least." Valeriya replies as she continues before looking back. "With me at least I'd really prefer you ask than make assumptions. Most private things I don’t want to share I'm good at ensuring you never know to ask about. I dislike having to correct your observations, it does you a form of discredit. Though if I continue to have to do it I guess it will be earned."
"Fair enough," Gabriel says as he follows Valeriya at a distance, perhaps not sure as to whether or not she wants company. "So, that rifle you got. It hits hard and it has some kind of magic to it, but works like a common rifle. You figured out how to work it yet? Or are you still trying to figure it out?" He looks behind him to see the sun jut beginning to peek over the horizon. His gaze turns to the few fluffy clouds in the sky. "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day."
"Hard for a single shot, but it cant do bursts. Makes it good for aimed shots, especially with a two thousand foot range. I can shoot it and charge it. No very accurate with it though, especially rushed like I would be in combat. My reflex is to aim it like a pistol, doesn’t work so well." Valeriya explains as she leads on, voicing no objections to company. "Looks like you'll be correct about this part of the planet having seasons after all."
The Kencukian follows and chuckles. "*All* parts of Planet Earth have seasons. Just some more obvious than others. This was a particularly bad winter." Gabriel looks up and hurries up a little. "If it's a rifle, why're you trying to use it like a pistol? While we're at it, where're we going for breakfast? I had some rabbit this morning, but I could fill my bell up a little more." He then returns to the first thing that Valeriya had said. "Okay, yeah, I'm confused by the grammar. What do you mean 'hard for a single shot' but then went on to say 'makes it good for aimed shots'?" Then, "Y'know, there are normal weapons out there with that kind of range. The rifle that I was packing, at least equal and possibly farther, I'd imagine, from what you just said."
"You cant aim as well firing a burst. Aiming you need to fire a single or simultaneous shots. And I use it like a pistol because I've only ever used pistols. This will be the first rifle I own." Valeriya answers as they make it to the street before pausing to consider the food options herself.
MAIN STREET NORTH
Gabriel follows Valeriya out onto the just-getting-crowded Main Street, catching up to walk at her side. "You get a well-balanced rifle, and you can aim a burst quite well, actually. But in general, rifles are designed for single aimed shots. You have to know how to sight, you need to know how to hold it. We're taught how to fire a rifle before we're taught how to fire a handgun." He'll look over at her as they walk. "You interested in some instruction? It came up the other day."
"I prefer the smell of coffee to grease." Valeriya states and doesn’t elaborate. But it does immediately precede her choice to continue north towards the plaza. "Even then, you'd still do better on a single shot. That rifle only does powerful single shots. So capitalizing on it means aiming for a weak target." She returns in debate before giving a nod. "As I said before, I'd make it worth your time to do so."
"Depends on the target. Sometimes even the best marksmen have difficulty hitting what is very distant, or very small." Gabriel seems to do a little internal thinking before asking, "Just how much do you understand about it right now. I get that you can fire a pistol - or I should say that from what you said, I assume you can fire a pistol - but it's different. Just how much instruction do you think you'd need? I realize that it's a tough guess, since you don't know what you're doing. Just give me a rough estimate. You're bright, and you have military experience of some kind. That counts for something to start with."
Valeriya shrugs, leading on into the plaza. "If I were to take the rifle into a fight as I am now I estimate I'd be able to hit my target about one out of three attempts, one out of two if I took time to aim carefully. With a normal pistol in a fight I can hit my target about two out of three times without having to aim carefully. So basically I'm looking to double my proficiency with the rifle."
Gabriel nods. "Sounds fair enough for someone with weapons training, but non-specific. Practice enough and you really should be able to hit a stationary target multiple times in a row, even at range." He looks forward. "Coffee, right? I prefer it to grease, myself. Let me buy you a mug?"
TRADEWINDS COFFEE SHOP
"Oh I can, just don’t assume my targets to stay still in combat. With a pistol on a stationary target I'll only miss one in ten shots on average if I take aim. One in eight if I rush, room for improvement but pretty good." Valeriya assures as she nods to the offer of coffee. "Black, and I'll take three bran muffins." She confirms pulling out enough credits to cover it all and letting Gabriel decide from there.
When it's Gabriel's turn at the counter, it turns out that the man seems to be on a first name basis with the young D-bee girl behind the counter. "Morning, Tammie!" A short conversation ensues before he orders his own black coffee, but with a very specific instruction - "Not boiling. A few degrees over lukewarm is fine. Thanks." His own mug is delivered, but he waves off any interest in the pastries being offered. "No, no. Here you go. Little something extra. How's your mom?" Chat chat briefly, then he's returned his attention to Valeriya. "Please, it's a woman's prerogative to choose where to sit." He smirks a little, also quite possibly ready to try to parry an incoming blow. With mug in hand, he asks, "Where did you receive your training, anyway?"
Valeriya buts the credits back into her pocket and carries her coffee and muffins over to the nearest empty table. "I worked as a privateer before making my way to this planet. Basically a glorified pirate. Was good money though a bit to limited on opportunities. About the only one I got was finding out how to get here. So I took it."
As Gabriel slides into his own chair, he comments, "I'm fairly certain that you weren't sailing oceans with a Letter of Marque from France, huh? Not that I'm really sure where I exactly *do* envision you sailing. Black powder muzzle-loading cannons, demanding tea and tobacco." He grins. "But please, correct me if I'm off the mark!" There's a definite and very large hint of amusement in his voice, not directed as anything more than a good-natured laugh. "Okay, Miss Valeriya, instead of continuing to dance around the subject and gather basic data, you want to officially sign-up for my instruction? Honestly, because if you don't, I'll just discuss it as a fun subject, not as a true military issue." He's smiling. He likes to help.
"I already said I did, twice. Does the military always require things in triplicate?" Valeriya asks with a slightly raised brow as she peels a muffin. "And no idea what nonsense your spouting before that question. Was crew on a space ship of mercenaries. Doing jobs for whoever payed us. Sometimes act as part of a fleet, sometimes on our own." She elaborates before pulling off a chunk and popping it into her mouth.
"Actually, yeah, on US subs they say everything three times to confirm an order, because it's really bad to fuck up on a sub. When you aren't in direct combat on the ground, orders are relayed twice - well, more confirmed than relayed, but the concept is basically the same." Gabriel shrugs and pulls at his just-above-lukewarm coffee. "Space ships, huh? Cool. I'll entertain you with my knowledge of space some other time. Anyway -" he points a gentle finger across the table "- with what you've told me from my questions, I bet I could get you up to par with a man coming out of Basic in about a month. 'bout the same time it took you to teach me how to hack at things - thanks for that, by the way. I'm going to recoup my money, though. Even's even. Six-thousand, up-front, you pay for all ammunition expenditures, firing range time, and you should buy your own cleaning kit. Won't cost you much, but if you can't maintain your weapon, it'll eventually just become a club. So an even monetary swap for knowledge gained. Fair?" The older fellow looks quite happy with the deal, adding, "I spent the last twenty years in special ops military and espionage, part of which involved training farmers and such on weapons. Sure I can whip you into shape real quick."
Valeriya nods, taking a swallow of her coffee to clear her mouth for a reply. "Sounds like a steal. Especially since learning with that rifle I don’t have to buy ammunition and it doesn’t need any more cleaning then a rub with a damp rag now and then." She states with a confident smirk.
Gabriel shrugs happily. "I wouldn't charge you anything if you hadn't charged me in the first place. Way I see it, knowledge is a commodity to be shared freely. *Not* that I'm saying anyone else should feel that way." He shakes his head. "Just my own opinion about how to conduct my own business. Sounds like a nice weapon, though. I assume it's the kind that goes through tank armor?"
Valeriya raises a brow, looking incredulous now. "Through tank armor? Don’t be silly. A really good shot would probably penetrate the armor I wear. But that’s nowhere near what would be on a tank." She notes with a shake of her head.
The older man waves it off. "Actually, I was more thinking about the kind of tank armor that I'm more familiar with. I'm told that the silly pistol strapped to by leg would blow right through a Sherman's turret, or at least put a real bad hurt on it." Gabriel sips at his coffee again, glances at Valeriya's pastries, then returns his eyes to her. "Alright, price is set, deal's done, we can start when you're ready. Now - please, tell me about these spaceships. I'm familiar with Flash Gordon and Jules Vern's book about going to the Moon. We had a couple of spy sats up before I left. But yours sound much more interesting."
Scene fades out as they have coffee, discussing various surficial topics.
