Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

Comments

[therealbrianna]

[ She nods, lowers the gun and starts disassembling it just as Alistair taught her. And like how she's practiced.

Quick pause so Alistair can take note of that, then assembling it. Again, just as he taught her, and just as she's been practicing. Turning her attention to him now to see his reaction. ]

[mordechai]

Good.

[He rarely says that. "Good."

No smiles, but the approval is in his eyes.]

Are you still the only gunner in your troupe?

[therealbrianna]

[ Laughing internally because hihi, Daddystair referred to a blade as a troupe. Not that she's going to let him know that, though... ]

Kaz is starting to learn too!

[mordechai]

Ah, right.

[He had not considered that, to be honest. By his assessment, Kaz still counted as a short-ranged fighter.

That was going to change pretty soon, though, from the looks of it.]

But you're the only one who's going to stick solely to ranged weapons. Right?

[Or not?]

[therealbrianna]

[ Recalling how she was strategizing it: balancing being a Changeling, an effective Netsach hunter and a hunter who's looking to expand to other conspiracies. ]

I... think so? Netsach gave me a Kurasigama too, but I haven't been training using that. The way I see it, I already know how to shoot guns to begin with so I'm focusing on that. Plus I'm also training with Tala and Lia.

[ Looking at Alistair quizzically, as if asking for his opinion. ]

I shouldn't spread myself too thin, right?

[mordechai]

[Nods.]

Decide what you want to capitalize on. It'd be good to know some basics, but if you're not fundamentally interested in combat at close quarters, don't bother.

[therealbrianna]

[ Yay approval~ ]

I'm thinking it can be something like a last resort or something. But yeah, I don't really like being in close combat anyway.

[ Plus capitalizing on guns means spending more time with you, Daddystair. <3 ]

[mordechai]

[Lifting an eyebrow at, then shrugging.]

I would've thought that someone who calls herself Hikaru's daughter would be into that sort of thing.

[Tala had taken to it like a fish to water.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Hey! >:( she feels challenged. But nope, thinking better of that... ]

Even if I'm Hikaru's daughter, I still value my life. Besides, strategically, it's good to have someone who's ranged in the blade. Kinda protect their backs, that kind of thing.

[ That's how Brig put it, right? ]

[mordechai]

Fair enough.

[Okay, good. She didn't call him out on how he deliberately referred to her as just Hikaru's daughter. He does like to think of them as separate entities these days, and it's done him a surprising amount of good.

Mostly.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Ehehehe.

Softly and mischievously: ]

Now I can be like Daddystair.

[mordechai]

[...Well, okay, she went there after all.

Have a Look.]

You're not my daughter. You know that, right?

[therealbrianna]

[ What's that, Brianna? You value your life? Why aren't you running away yet? ]

Yeah, I know. I just call you that sometimes. Can't blame me though, Tala calls you that all the time. It kinda just rubs off on me.

[ Trying to worm her way out of this. ]

[mordechai]

Right.

[Color this one Unconvinced.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Hmph.

Softly, under her breath: ]

I can see why he likes you.

[ Actually, she can. Alistair is... A good person? Maybe not to Brianna yet but he definitely is good to Hikaru. Even... Good for Hikaru? ]

[mordechai]

[Catching that. Not saying anything for a while.

Now he's moving to comandeer his own slot beside yours at the range. He doesn't look pissed? He actually looks... well, he looks about as pensive as someone like him can.

It may also be because he's fixing his gun first. Yeah, that's definitely it.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Oho?

Watching him closely. Cause, y'know. To get some pointers and tips.

Yep. ]

[mordechai]

[Well, his form is pretty damned perfect. Might also be because he gets even better at what he does when he's studiously trying to NOT think about something. But you don't have to know that.

Dishing out an entire round at the target before he's stepping back and setting the gun away.]

Stepping out for another cigarette.

[Normally, that is followed by him either telling Brianna that she can join him, or that she needs to stay in and keep practicing. This time, though, that's all he says as he moves off.]

[therealbrianna]

[ ...oopsies. :(

She runs off after him partly because she felt guilty, but partly because she wants to check on Alistair. ]

[mordechai]

[You'll find him back at the spot that the two of you were earlier, lighting up a cigarette.

...And apparently rather focused on that, then later on the people moving around in the distance, the streets.

No words, all over again.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Welp.

Walking up to him and poking him on the shoulder with eyes that say "You okay? ]

[mordechai]

What?

[He knows that look, but he's purposefully ignoring it. It's not like she asked out loud, right?]

[therealbrianna]

[ She directs her gaze to the floor. ]

I'm sorry....

[mordechai]

[Considering her a moment, then shrugging, taking another drag.]

Don't be.

[Quiet, but truthful. He's not just saying it to get her off of his back.]

[therealbrianna]

Okay, if you say so!

[ Looking at him now. ]

Why so tense though?