Shooting range: Thursday morning

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack had left a handwavy message for Irulan to meet him at the gun range in the morning, then left a second equally handwavy message telling her how to find it. And not to wear any headdresses, hats, or other ornamental headgear.

He arrived early and made sure the rules were posted in plain view -

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.

- then started going through the weapons locker, selecting the best gun for Irulan to start with.

[ooc: Jack's here for irulan_corrino, but open for all your gun range requirements!]

Comments

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan arrives without the headdress, the fancy gown and wore something, for her, simple. She immediately saw Jack and smiled broadly. "Good morning."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack looked up from the two guns he'd set on the bench, and smiled. "Good morning, Irulan." He tilted his head, looking her over, then smiled wider as he walked over. "The simple look really suits you. You look lovely this morning." He held out a hand. "Though I doubt you ever don't look lovely."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan felt her cheeks go warm and was glad the Reverend Mother wasn't there to see it. "Thank you, Jack. You look fetching yourself."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, directing her towards the rules he'd posted. "You're too kind," he told her, grinning. "Now," he pointed at the poster, "these are the rules, and they're extremely important. I need you to read them, and make sure you understand them, before we start. Okay?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan studied the poster and committed the rules to memory.

"I understand and obey." She said with a serious nod.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack's eyebrows shot up. "You want to be careful who you say that to," he told her, hiding another grin, because she was just too cute. "But good. Now, first things first - have you ever shot a gun? These are projectile weapons," he added, figuring if she was from farther ahead than he was, chances are they had more advanced weaponry than handguns. "They fire a metal bullet at a hell of a speed, and put a serious hole in anything they hit."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

This time the blush couldn't be helped as she realized what Jack implied.

"I was allowed to use a lasgun once," Irulan said, thinking of her Sadaukar guard, "And the only projectile weapon I've ever used is a crossbow."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He nodded in understanding. "That's a good start. Come with me," a hand on her shoulder again, drawing her over to the mouth of the alley where he'd set out two 9 MMs, and ear and eye protection for both of them. "First and most important thing, safety glasses and ear covers. I think these will fit you," he held both out to her, "but try them, and if they're not comfortable, we'll get you some different ones."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan took the ear covers and tried them on, it wasn't too loose nor was it too tight.

"It is adequate," she informed him, pulling it down to her neck. If there was a bomb somewhere, Irulan would probably not notice, that was how focused she was on Jack learning.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

It was nice, Jack decided, to have someone paying such close attention to him. "Now the safety glasses. We don't want anything happening to those gorgeous eyes of yours."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

She's been piled with compliments before, really Jack shouldn't have this affect on her, she quickly complied, hoping the glasses would at least mask her blushing.

"It all fits well," Irulan complimented.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The blushing cemented his certainty that yup, Irulan was adorable. "Excellent." He selected one of the guns, the lightest one he'd been able to find, and held it out.

"This is a 9mm," and Jack was suddenly struck with the memory of Parker doing this for him. "It's not loaded, but you never take someone's word for that. Check the chamber like this," he demonstrated, "and the slide," he added pulling it back. "And even when you know it's empty, you still treat it like it's loaded. Here. You try." He offered her the gun, smiling encouragingly.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan solemnly took the gun and followed Jack's instructions to the letter. She checked the chamber, pulled back the slide and made sure it was empty, then held it as carefully as she could mimick Jack handling the gun.

"It is empty." She informed him.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said, nodding in approval. "Even though it's empty, don't point it at anything you don't want to kill. Next step: loading." He picked up the other gun, checked chamber and slide, and then held up a cartridge. "Really easy, just click and slide," and he did so, gun pointed at the ground. "Make sure the safety," he showed it to her, "is on until you want to shoot. Your turn." He offered her a cartridge.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

It didn't show but Irulan was really enjoying this. She took the cartridge and slid it on with a sharp click then followed Jack's example and checked the safety twice then pointed her gun at the ground.

She glanced at Jack with another solemn nod.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack was trying very hard to be serious, but it was hard when Irulan was being so solemn. The corners of his mouth pulled up in a smile as he unloaded his gun, double checked it, and put it down.

"Okay," he said. "Three important things: how you stand, how you look, and how you hold your gun. Your grip needs to be as tight as you can make it, and high. It'll give you better control." He considered her thoughtfully for a moment, then said, "It'll be easiest to show you if I put your hands in the right position." He wasn't taking a chance on startling her when she was holding a loaded gun.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan thought about this, she was equal parts anxious and giddy over the prospect of physical proximity to Jack. Finally she nodded, "You may show me."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack moved to stand slightly behind and beside Irulan and wrapped his hands around hers, giving her a minute to get used to the feel, then carefully positioned her hands. "Web between thumb and forefinger go high, just under the trigger guard, then close your hands around the grip and squeeze tightly. Your other hand wraps around to give support, and your thumbs align to point downrange." He paused, hands covering hers in the correct position. "How does that feel?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan had a mad urge to giggle, she suppressed it ruthlessly. It was not becoming an Imperial Princess, the heir to the throne no less to giggle.

"I am alright," Iruan finally said, she was glad Jack was giving her time to get used to the proximity, she even managed to smile slightly.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He smiled back, warm and reassuring. "You're doing great, Irulan," he told her, and slowly let go of her hands, stepping back slightly. "Now stance. You want your feet to be shoulder width apart, one foot slightly in front of the other. You want to be balanced and comfortable, but not rigid."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

She followed his instructions and set her feet shoulder's width apart, one foot slightly behind the other.

The rigid part she tried to fix, she was aware of Jack's proximity, it wasn't that she was afraid. It was more that she wasn't used to the proximity, nonetheless she thought: 'Fear is the mindkiller. I will let it pass through me.'

The abbreviated Fear litany, as always, helped and she managed to relax her stance a little. She smiled at Jack, feeling triumphant. "Is this right?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Just about perfect," he said. "Let me just," and he moved closer and nudged her foot slightly forward, then nodded in satisfaction. "Perfect. Now you're ready to aim. Lift the gun, arms extended, and line up the sights with the target. Front sight, rear sight, and the target should align, but you won't be able to focus on all three for very long, so once you've lined up the target, concentrate on the front sight."

Jack stayed standing behind Irulan, not touching her, but close.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Okay, yes, that took her by surprise. And more surprising was that she didn't physically register it as a threat but now she was very aware how close he was to her.

She chose to focus on Jack's instructions, extending her arms and focused on the target and pulled the trigger.

The noise and the sudden kick of the weapon surprised a gasp from Irulan and she involuntarily stepped back.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

As automatic as breathing, his hands came up to steady her, and he stepped forward, bracing her with his body. "Easy," he said, hands wrapped around her shoulders. "I should have warned you it would have a kick. You okay?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"It was a surprise," Irulan admitted, "But I am fine. How did I fare?"

It was then she realized that she was completely braced against Jack. She blushed, and pulled away slowly and murmured, "Apologies."