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Post by Wayland on May 10, 2021 10:39:52 GMT -8
Syd’s Gun Range doesn’t exactly go in for a lot of branding, but what they have pokes fun at the Toy Story connection to the owner’s name. The sign with a cowboy hat shading a pair of ominously narrowed eyes encouraging everyone to PLAY NICE is probably just short of copyright infringement, and there are little green army men hanging out in unexpected places inside the building. It’s on the outskirts of Vegas, a relatively small building for conducting business, and a large outdoor space for the range, with an extended veranda to shield shooters from the unforgiving Nevada sun. It’s rarely crowded, but they have a small selection of firearms available for rent. Wayland and Archie should be able to talk here without too much worry, while they try out some firearms.
The Fairest had generously offered to cover the trip’s expenses. Which is actually quite nice, rentals and ammunition and fees could really add up. On Archie’s dime, they should get to try out quite a bit today. She’d let him handle Syd’s employees, selected a few pieces to rent, and endured the mandatory refresher lesson from the range-master about the safety rules before heading out into the heat. Their spot is out of the way, and while the range-master will no doubt be keeping an eye on them, they should still be able to talk in privacy.
“So in the future,” Wayland begins as they get settled, “Do me a favor: Don’t mention me ‘selling stuff that goes bang’ over the phone or email.” She glances aside at him, “It’s not a big deal,” there are perfectly innocent explanations for that kind of phrase, but “I’m just not looking to go on any lists, y’know?” Her new ID is pretty good, and she doesn’t want to tarnish it with suspicion.
“That said, I can help you out,” she goes on with a small smile curling her lips, showing there’s no hard feelings. “What sort of bang are you looking for?” They’ve got a pretty good selection they can try out, but maybe Archie can narrow things down.
@archie
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2021 11:18:34 GMT -8
”You don’t run encrypted? I highly recommend - WhatsApp, Telegram, imessage, etcetera, all are life savers when it comes to keeping privacy and short of having my device in hand and all the passcodes in my brain it keeps this stuff on lock.”
His request for an outing so of course he had the bill handled. Wayland was going to be doing the courtesy of helping him out with might be a good fit with his tastes. Despite it being business he kept it business casual with a polo, and jeans and a nice set of work boots. He also had himself a Vegas Raiders cap with some polarized glasses and ear plugs. Safety first.
”Well don’t laugh - but I am a bit of a boy scout when it comes to shooting, yes I can do it to basic , know the etiquette, and all that but I am no Jesse James.”
It was at this point that Archie brought his own case to bare, nice, sleek, and black with some funny language written on the front and unless Wayland had a basic knowledge of Hebrew it would escape her.
”But at the end of the day, it's always kind of fun to blow off some steam - good shot or no.
A couple snaps undone and the case was opened up, to reveal a clean crisp firearm and a couple of magazines. Nothing crazy, no golden guns, or crazy accessories.
”Right now I am shooting a 941 Jericho, straight from the Homeland, shooting with 9mm parabellum. I mean it’s a service pistol so it sometimes makes up for my own deficiencies but isn’t a miracle worker. While if I had my choice I prefer things from the Homeland or Germany - oh the irony - there is just something about a good old fashioned revolver that makes the heart skip a beat, ya know? I don’t need to go full Dirty Harry either, enough kick to feel it but not just a poof in your hand.”
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Post by Wayland on May 12, 2021 11:01:34 GMT -8
Wayland nods in the appropriate places to show she’s listening behind her own set of safety glasses and earplugs. Archie talks fast and doesn’t seem to expect a response most of the time. And that’s okay. When he opens up his case, her eyes go from his face to his firearm, examining it for a moment (with her eyes, not her hands) while she listens to him go on until there’s a space that seems like it’s left for her to contribute.
“Well,” she begins, reaching for her own case and setting it on the bench, “I’m no Annie Oakley myself, so you don’t need to worry about me laughing.” She undoes the lock and latches, revealing a beefy, squat revolver. “When I feel the need, this is what I carry. Colt King Cobra. It might be a little too much gun for you, but you’re welcome to try it and see how it feels. I usually load .357 magnum, but you’re probably better off trying it with .38 special, to start with.”
She gestures to the other firearms they’ve rented, “Unless you’d like to try something else first. How would you like to start?” Wayland’s gotta admit, she’s excited to try some of these. Even Archie’s Jericho produced a little envy from her.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2021 7:38:32 GMT -8
“See, I have shot bigger in the past and I think that is why my shoulder aches come and go with the rain - until I take the time to hit the gym and get some real gains I should probably stick with your expert advice. No need to play Dirty Harry if I don’t have too.”
While he spoke he removed his own firearm from the case, giving it a once over and then loading it while he looked at the targets down range. Nothing crazy, he wasn’t trying to be a sniper just blow some steam off.
“How about a warm up - five shots? Loser buys first round?”
Arch figured he may as well let a few loose with his more familiar side arm before venturing into unknown territory. He was going to squeeze the trigger whether it was a contest or not, but it was worth putting a beer on the line.
"Hey, not bad, think I only wiffed one - no Robin Hood, but I'll take it. I can taste that imported beer already.
A playful goad, as he stepped aside for the Spear to step up and hopfully not embarass him too much.
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Post by Wayland on May 21, 2021 20:26:51 GMT -8
“Sounds good,” the Ogre replies when Archie offers a warmup. She’s curious about that Jericho, and about Archie’s skill level. She steps back to give him room and watches. Watches his stance, his grip, his trigger management, how he deals with recoil. Looks downrange to see the results of his shooting. Not bad. Not bad at all. She laughs quietly when he jests with her, “Kidding aside, that was pretty good. You’re right, you’ve got the basics down,” she tells him while she checks her own gun, loads it, and takes up her position. The .357 magnum King Cobra is certainly louder than the 9mm parabellum. But Wayland’s first and last shots are misses, despite a good one dead center on her second. She makes a ‘tsk’ noise, sucking air between her teeth with a slight grimace, as she empties the chamber of spent brass and puts her weapon back down on the bench. “Looks like I’m getting the first one.”
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2021 22:28:03 GMT -8
“So how about some work talk? Know who you are signing up to work under yet? I know with everything that has been going down. I know Linden has had some ideas but I haven’t heard anything that screams commitment. I know Riley and I have been shopping as well. Things seem inevitable so figure this was our chance to get ahead of the curse since our department is likely to follow your own.”
It was a hot topic these days and it was good to know where people you liked fell on the spectrum. Plus if they weren’t thinking about this sort of stuff already it was good to get their minds on it and prep them for what was coming as the Summer vice would begin to squeeze.
He took his time with his sidearm still down, no need to start shooting while Wayland got her own reloaded.
“How about double or nothing then I’ll switch over to this .38 special?”
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Post by Wayland on May 24, 2021 14:34:01 GMT -8
She considers her reply to Archie, and offers it, while she reloads “I’ve heard a little about Mary,” she tells him as she works. “Of the folks in my department offering positions, I think she might be the best fit for me. I haven’t met her yet, of course, so who knows? But her approach, her portfolio, I think that’s where my talents lean.” She glances aside at him, “I can hold my own, but I’ll never be the best out in front, out on patrol. And oversight? I’m not,” she squints slightly, face pinching, “I like people, but I’m not a people person, y’know?”
She snaps shut the cylinder, “Sure, you can try mine next. Would you mind if I tried out your Jericho? I’ve been meaning to get myself an automatic, but it’s been kinda out of my price range lately.”Wayland must be warmed up now, because when she takes her shooting stance and starts firing, every single shot hits the paper. They’re not the most beautiful shots in the world, but the idea with a .357 magnum is they don’t have to be. They just have to incapacitate the target. And Wayland’s coming close enough to center mass that they have a good chance of doing that, every time. Her last shot even hits dead-on in the midsection.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2021 23:10:24 GMT -8
A fair, measured, and wise response. He should have expected nothing less. It was good to see someone at least had this on their mind. As times grew trying it was smart to imbed within the system as tensions grew. No more shuffling around with your head down, that was for sure.
“That sounds like a solid plan, it always is nice when you have a vision to guide you. I know I found myself in a bind when the notion of moving up came along. It took some poignant life events to help me come to a conclusion myself.”
“I am good with a switcheroo, see if I can tap my inner Bronson.”
He used that as motivation to do well with his own pistol, and squeeze off five shots to best the Maker. Alas, it wasn’t to be.
“Well that is two rounds on me it seems.”
As they prepped to swap guns and try out each other's hardware, there was room for more small talk.
“Made any non-business connections? The last few events have been bustling to say the least so I haven’t been able to keep my thumb on the pulse of every social circle as much as I would like to admit.”
He was of course broaching if Wayland had formed a Motley or something similar, as he kept matters about the community.
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Post by Wayland on May 28, 2021 22:13:41 GMT -8
The Ogre opens the Cobra’s cylinder, dumping the spent brass and letting Archie look down the chamber so he can see as well as she can that it’s empty. Then, chamber open, she sets it on the bench next to the box of .38 special ammunition that she’s yet to break open, and shifts across the aisle to exchange places with him. “Do you want to talk about it? Who you joined up with, or why?” No pressure, just an offer.
She picks up the Jericho from the bench, first (as always) confirming that it’s completely empty for safety, then giving it a thorough look-over to satisfy her curiosity. “Yeah, a few,” she answers his question about connections while she examines the machine, a small smile curling her lips. “Linden invited Alecto and me to take out some aggression on some innocent beer bottles and hunks of scrap. That was a lot of fun.” She saved one of the piano keys, a souvenir.
“And Ivory and I have been chatting a bit.” Examination complete, Wayland loads the magazine into the Jericho, thumbs the slide-release to chamber a round, and takes up a shooting stance.She finds her rhythm quickly with the automatic, which requires less effort to compensate for it’s recoil. Her smile remains in place as spent brass leaps from the weapon’s action and lead target-bullets cut tiny circular holes in the target. She lowers the weapon, safetying it and keeping it pointed downrange even as she turns to Archie, “Nice gun you’ve got here.”
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2021 0:16:07 GMT -8
“Riley and I are going to ask to mentor under the Knight of Coins. Speaking of which, how are things with Ivory, I believe those were some sparks I saw post introduction at Ostara. All I can say if she is your type all I can say is fortune favors the bold when it comes to the Dragon.”
He laughed a little at the offer of advice, hoping it could be of some use to the Ogre in their personal pursuits.
“Trust me, when in doubt, guns from the Homeland are always trustworthy. How can you have any doubt in the home of the Desert Eagle, right?”
He nodded affirmatively as he finished loading the revolver, taking up his position and opening fire.
“Oof, that is a bit more than I am used too.”
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Post by Wayland on Jun 7, 2021 20:48:20 GMT -8
The Ogre takes one hand off her borrowed gun and rubs the back of her neck a little at Archie’s offer of advice, but that comes with a small smile. She’s not quite sure how she feels about that subject yet, and it shows on her face, but at least part of those feelings are positive.
“You’re doing fine,” she says of his shooting, after watching for a while. Her eyes have dipped to the placement of his feet, the arrangement of his knees and hips, his grip; examining his shooting position. “It’s an adjustment, is all. It’s a hefty piece of metal.” Heavier than his Jericho, certainly.
She gestures to the box of .38s, offering him the opportunity to reload and try again if he’d like. “As for Ivory… it’s new. We’re still figuring each other out, y’know? But I’ve been enjoying talking to her.” She’d told Archie at Ostara that she was trying to be open to possibilities, and she’d meant it.
With a glance at the Jericho, she decides she’s gotten what she wanted out of it; she definitely needs an automatic for herself. She removes the magazine and pulls the slide open, catching the bullet as it ejects, and puts it all on the bench before them. Then turns back to the Spring.
“So what are you looking to add to your collection? Another everyday carry piece, customized just for you? A long-gun to take with you when you go camping?” She’s happy to build him a completely ordinary gun of whatever kind she can manage (and acquire parts for) but there are other options on the table. With a bit of glamour she can Make true treasures, and she could try her hand at Hedgespinning again if they can negotiate a fair price.
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Post by Wayland on Jun 17, 2021 23:14:30 GMT -8
The two talk and shoot for a bit more, but eventually Archie gets a call. Some business that requires his attention. He kindly leaves Wayland with the remaining time, weaponry, and ammunition already rented on the range. She has a pretty decent afternoon of shooting to herself after he politely departs.
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