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catchall
WHO: d & others
WHERE: around the netherworld
WHEN: oocly, month of oct
WHAT: a catchall for me for different threads during oct
WARNINGS: will update as needed
Log Post ¤ Plotting Post
WHERE: around the netherworld
WHEN: oocly, month of oct
WHAT: a catchall for me for different threads during oct
WARNINGS: will update as needed
no subject
That's his logic and he's sticking to it. ]
This way, all the interesting ones are further along.
[ Along the row there are a few that draw Cedrik's eye. One looks like the Crystal Tower Striker and another take on Cuff-a-Cur, both very tempting. But they would most certainly break the 'nothing strenuous' rule so he moves on.
He'll come back to try those later.
Finally he comes to stop before a miniature shooting gallery. Well-worn toy rifles line the booth while cartoon monsters with targets painted on their chests move back and forth on hidden conveyors. Every so often a 'reaper' swoops down from an opening in the ceiling, much faster than the other targets. A sign confirms it: hit the reaper to win the grand prize.
Cedrik looks back up at D. ]
What do you make of this one?
no subject
For clear reasons.
He stops by Cedrik's side at the shooting gallery. The pretend guns receive a cursory look before he peers at the object of the game as it goes along. Hm. He is honestly more of a sword man, but okay.]
Are you challenging me?
[Will this be a duel now, Cedrik...?]
no subject
Something sparks in the warrior's eyes. ]
Well now I am.
[ Has he ever used a rifle before? No, but he used to practice archery. It's the same principle, right? Though it's also been decades...
The point is, as a fellow sword man, this could end up an actual even match.
On the other side of the booth, the Restless barker eyes the two men and feels suddenly nervous. More so when Cedrik marches right up and takes his position, looking back at D with a fierce grin. ]
no subject
He glances from Cedrik to the Restless manning this poor stand, and then he follows Cedrik quietly up to the edge.
From beneath his cloak, he produces six coins and sweeps them onto the top of the counter; three for him and three for Cedrik. When he takes up the rifle, he doesn’t pause to look it over, and doesn’t hesitate with uncertainty as it rises to notch against the front of his shoulder. He doesn’t lift it to look down the barrel, though, instead holding the end pointed at the counter.
Waiting.]
no subject
The guns Cedrik has seen the most of were all gunblades, all single handed weapons. Blessedly, he does not follow his first instinct to hold the rifle in front of him like he would if he were borrowing it from Thancred. The stock isn't shaped for it, it has to be cradled in both hands.
...Cedrik gives D a side-long look and quietly mimics his stance.
The Restless reaches out quickly, sweeping the coins off the counter and darting back out of the way. ]
"Three coins for five shots...you have one minute after the bell...if you don't take all five before it rings again, you forfeit the rest!"
[ Cedrik focuses his gaze on the range, adjusting his grip. He tenses...
The bell rings. ]
no subject
D is very conscious about having a fair duel. When it comes to fighting, that is. If people challenge him, he doesn't mind, he quite likes it, but he wants it to be equal. There are a lot of things about him that aren't fair at all. And this isn't equal, he thinks. This is a lot like the games he plays when ignorant humans challenge him to things they'll never win, like drinking.
Not that Cedrik is ignorant, nor that Cedrik won't possibly surprise him.
There's no way for him to turn off the senses he's gained from being a vampire. Even when the bell rings, D doesn't lift the rifle. Through the cacophony of noise around them and the noise from the stall, he listens for the sound of the mechanisms hidden away. His eyes stare, unfocused, at the lines where targeted monsters clink back and forth, passing him by. He waits like this, patiently, silently, for several long moments as if he's forgotten what he was even doing.]
...
no subject
That's his first mistake. The memory tells him to aim higher, and with his first shot he misses the back targets completely, the pellet thumping against heavy canvas instead.
There's no drop off, of course. Cedrik clicks his tongue and adjusts to try again. ]
...
[ Distantly, he's aware that D hasn't taken a shot, that he hasn't even moved. Cedrik hopes that doesn't mean he's throwing...no, D wouldn't do that. He'd better not be.
Cedrik's second shot hits. A toothy basilisk drops down from the middle row, though it was a near thing. Another adjustment and Cedrik has it. He's always been a quick learner, especially with weapons...which thankfully includes toy versions of them.
Third shot, a harpy in the back row drops. Fourth shot, another. The fifth...Cedrik holds it, adjusting his aim higher up. The reaper will swing down once before the bell rings again. He could take the safer bet and go for the target's he's proven he can reliably hit.
He's taking the risk. ]
no subject
Another, larger set of gears begin to click over the continuous sound of what's already running. He can hear them grinding. Suddenly and all at once, D's eyes refocus, and he swiftly lifts the rifle up to his shoulder without making the movements jerky. He pauses for only a second, then he fires.
The pellet springs out to hit the reaper right as it swings down and into view. Cedrik is free to also attempt a shot before it gets knocked backward. Carefully, D lowers the rifle, pulling the lever forward to roll another pellet in the chamber. Then he places the rifle down again on the counter.]
no subject
Instead it's D that Cedrik notices first, hearing the cloak move and seeing the rifle lift up from the corner of his eye, it's just enough to tell him what the dhampir is aiming for. The reaper. That has to be it.
Cedrik sees it drop and squeezes the trigger. It fires almost in sync with D's--almost. His own pellet zips through the air, just missing the target as it swings back out of sight. No luck. ]
Damn that's fast!
[ Cedrik lowers the rifle and he's laughing, the thrill lingering even though he's lost. D's good! But with practice, perhaps...?
Zenos was absolutely wrong about the Warrior of Light, by the way. Completely and utterly incorrect in his assessment. ]
no subject
Without saying anything yet, D lifts a hand and points at one of the prizes hanging above them. It takes the Restless a moment to get recollected after the wild shot, but they finally step up to retrieve the prize.
As soon as D gets it, he turns and offers it out to Cedrik: a simple, foam broadsword. Black. Looks kind of like Guts' sword really.]
...It wasn't a fair challenge.
[If he's anything, it's honest.]
no subject
Now Accessible
When he's offered D's prize Cedrik's brow lifts in surprise before he lets out a chuckle, reaching to take the 'weapon' by the hilt. ]
If I didn't know better I'd suspect you were mocking me.
[ He gives it a little spin before resting the blade on his shoulder. ]
Some day I'll find a fair one for us, then I'll be the one impressing you.
no subject
No.
[Said gently. He understands Cedrik is teasing him, but he wants Cedrik to be sure he isn't mocking anyway. His eyes shift to the other stalls from beneath the brim of the hat, then he looks again at Cedrik.]
Play one without me and show me then.
[Do something impressing while he isn't cheating as he plays.]
no subject
That wouldn't be the same...but very well. Come, help me find something suitable, eh?
[ With the gifted foam sword on his shoulder, he's more determined than ever to win something fun for D in return...though he might have to break the 'no strenuous games' rule to do it. ]
(OOC: This thread has been a blast but is it ok if we wrap up/handwave the rest?)
no subject
they can play more games... d can be impressed...]