Log: Aptitude

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Who: Agent Maine and Roxy
What: Maine agrees to test Roxy's aptitude
Where: a local shooting range
When: Saturday at 2 pm (20 June; backdated)
Warnings: awesome characters doing awesome things with weaponry

Maine's glad he remembers his promise to meet Roxy on Saturday. He definitely drank more than he had planned that night with Louisiana. And while he's a little irritated with himself for making such a commitment while inebriated, it's far from the worst thing he has done. What could happen? His reputation would take a hit from being seen at a shooting range with a girl in pink?

Maine isn't worried about that. In fact, he's rather curious. He packs his full arsenal with him: both M6Gs, his standard rifle, an auto rifle, and the Bruteshot. At least Roxy will have something to shoot with. Sure, he gets a number of frightened looks when he exits the jeep at the shooting range, but what do they think this place is? A bakery?

Comments

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"You're good," he admits. "Really good." He doesn't know how she compares to North or Wyoming, but she's far better than he anticipated.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

"I know," she said simply. "Though not much for kill shots." She hated killing. She would rather avoid it if she could.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Not the only one," he says. Wash and York are the same way. Maine is. . . working on it. "Still. Sorry I doubted you."

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

"Really? Good to hear," Roxy said, lowering her gun. "I could take the shots if I had to, but I don't....they're too still when they die." Far too still and it's too final and she can hear it screaming in her head.

Her head snapped up at the apology, looking surprised. "What?"

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Sorry for doubting you." He wants to pick up his rifle and sight down the lane instead of meeting her eyes, but he doesn't. "Sometimes I forget what young people can do."

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

There's still surprise on her face and then...she relaxes. "Yeah. I know how it should be for kids. But not all kids are that lucky and when they're not....they still know how to survive. At least, that's what I got. Kind of limited on interactions with kids my own age."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Never was that lucky," he says. "And can't force you to be."

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

Roxy nodded. "That's right. Always gonna have misfortune happen. Might as well control how it comes, right?" If nothing else, the mugging attempt was evidence of that. If it's not one thing, it's another.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

And make a living while you're at it, in Maine's case.

"Exactly."

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

That as well.

She nodded and looked at him seriously. "So. I have a favor to ask."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Depends," he says. "See what I can do."

He won't make any promises, but he would like to help.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

"This?" She gestured with her head at her target. "Do or die since I was a lil kid, not just excessive target practice. So, if you guys need back up, esp when it comes to keeping the Ai's or Oquirrh safe, keep me as an option? Trust me, nothing on Adaptive is gonna be a new sitch when it comes to shit hitting the fan."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Can do that," he says. "You know Oquirrh?"

He still hasn't met the woman. He only knows that she's Wash's girlfriend and the reason his team could finally move against Control. Either one of those reasons could put her in danger; he's glad to know he can trust one of her friends to protect her.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

"She needed a fake identity in a hurry, and I could make one in a hurry. Also she wants to try video games and how can I not convert someone to the wonders of pixel action?" Roxy said with a shrug, though she was getting far more relaxed then when she arrived. It's good someone is willing to trust her.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"You can?" That's also pretty impressive.

He's glad those two have each other. Both could probably use a good friend, given their circumstances.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

Roxy nodded. "Lotta problem with robots growing up. Makes it a whole lot easier to keep yourself safe if you could make the robots forget any clues where you are," she said and shrugged. "Learned more from there. A lot of free time when death wasn't imminent."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Robots?" he asks. "Not many robots here. Good to have two ways to fight them."

He stops to take aim again, sighting down the lane.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

"Not from here. Lotta bots where I'm from," Roxy said, lifting up her gun again. "And three ways to fight 'em, though number three ain't so reliable these days." Stupid laws of physics.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Still better than none," he points out. "What's number three?"

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

"...angle and momentum. See, the design flaw in robots is, while more mobile than like, a tank, they still got joints. Which are weaker than anything else," Roxy said, and takes another shot, at the shoulder. "So, if ya can manage to get the right amount of speed and force, at the right angle, you can break the limbs. But, you know, part of it kind of involved throwing myself off shit I really shouldn't have been," she fires at the other shoulder. "Straight up magic I didn't break more bones. And, well, Gulch has taller buildings." She fires at the ankles. There is also the fact she lacks the actual 'magic' that let her survive doing that crazy stuff. "You'd probs be excellent at it though, with less rocketing off rooftops."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Joints are good," he says. "On people, too."

He won't comment on the rooftop idea. No reason to let her know he hates heights.

[thevoidsdarkhorse]

"They are. S'long as they're not stupid fuckers, first broken bone will usually make peeps back off. Though, not always, apparently," she said with a shrug. Which was a fun surprise. Really.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Too many are," Maine says. Especially in his line of work. Tougher mercenaries manage to shrug off the strangest things.

Not that he has any right to talk.