Gun Range, Wednesday afternoon

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's having a good week, but it never pays to slack off. So....

SAFETY RULES:

· TREAT ALL GUNS AS IF THEY WERE LOADED

· KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL READY TO FIRE

· BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT’S BEYOND

· ALWAYS WEAR HEARING AND EYE PROTECTION

· NEVER USE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS BEFORE OR WHILE SHOOTING.

· CHECK IN ALL WEAPONS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE RANGE.

[ooc: open to all]

Comments

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

The shooting at the carnival had made one part of River very curious. Another part of her said 'stay away'. Today, she didn't listen to that other part. After all, there had been more guns around on Serenity and nothing bad had happened there. Correction: nothing bad related to River in combination with guns or shooting had happened there. So it was probably safe to watch Parker shoot.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker had just finished emptying a clip when she noticed River watching. "Hey. How are you doing, River?" She re-loaded her gun, but didn't assume shooting position again.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Fine. You?" River smiled. "Having fun?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Always. There's something soothing about target practice. Even better than beating up a punching bag," Parker said, looking mildly amused. She pulled her hearing protection down so she could talk to River more easily. "If you're going to hang here, you should probably put on hearing and eye protection. Were you wanting to try?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River shrugged picking up the hearing aid. "Maybe. Yes. Yes, I would." She put on the eye protection. It felt strange.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Have you ever handled a gun before?" Parker asked, then unloaded the 9mm in her hand. "And was it one like this, or some kind of space gun?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Similar to this," River said. Not that the memories were completely clear. Some part of her would know though.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Okay. Sights, trigger, *safety*." Parker pointed out the parts of the gun, then gave it to her unloaded. "Try it without the ammo first; just squeeze the trigger, and aim."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River did as Parker told her. She calmly picked up the gun, aimed at one of the targets and pressed the trigger. Easy.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"All right. Always check to make sure it's loaded. Or unloaded. Never ever assume. That way lies people bleeding." Parker took the gun from River, loaded it, and gave it back. "You want to assume a martial arts stance, and pull your hand up as far up the stock as you can. Use both hands, one supporting the other-- whichever one your dominant hand is, of course, goes on the trigger. Then line up your eyes with the sight at the front, and then the back, with the target. Got it?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Nodding, River took the loaded gun. She held it in her hand and eyed it for a moment, the looked up. They were standing to the side of the alleys, and while this wasn't how you were expected to do it, it was the best position for hitting all targets available.

Her mind had instantly registered the locations of the targets, so when she aimed and fired she hit the first and then just moved on to the next, not finishing before she had hit them all. This was easy. Knowing how to do this was all there, in her head.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker watched, amazed and a little stunned.

All of them. Every single shot, River made it in the bull's eye. From an increased distance, at a bad angle, at speed.

"Whoa."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River emptied the clip and handed the gun back to Parker. "I enjoyed that. Thank you."

It was frightening too. It was as if this was something she should do.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome. That was-- impressive." Parker shook her head. Aeryn could do that, maybe, or John Conner, with his constant practice. And on a good day, she could, but not that easily, not that fast. "Where did you learn to shoot?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Don't remember much," River said. "My previous school." Her memories weren't that clear.

A worried look appeared in her eyes. "Don't tell anyone?" she asked.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

One name leapt to mind immediately, of course: Jarod. Parker paused. "Aside from him... okay. But why not? It's a good skill to have around here. We might need it sometime."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"They want me back," River said. But she had picked up on the 'need it' phrase. "I'll help when it's needed," she said. "But... don't tell everyone."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

And whether or not River could have guessed from her mind that that kind of appeal was likely to work, or whether it was the truth, it didn't matter. Better to err on the side of caution. "Okay. I won't. And thanks for promising to help." Parker reloaded the gun. "Do you want to go agaim?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River smiled and nodded. "Yes. I would."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker grinned and handed her the gun. "This time? Stick to one target? Maybe see what kind of pattern you can make in the paper."

[and I go away! Back in a couple hours]

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Grinning back, River took the gun and chose the nearest alley this time. Thinking for a second, she decided to try making the pattern of a fish in the paper.

((ooc: Ok!))

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker watched, amused, but she did have to wonder. Why would anyone knowing River was such a good shot mean she had to go 'back'?

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Either River wasn't paying attention to Parker's thoughts or she just didn't bother to comment. She frowned looking at the target, then shrugged and handed the gun back to Parker. "Thank you for letting me shoot," she said.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Any time."