Shooting Range: Tuesday Afternoon [after workshops]

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The first thing Jack did upon entering the Range was post the Safety Rules:

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.

He might have posted them with a little more care than he usually did. And, for once, he didn't immediately grab his guns. Instead, he spread his arms wide and said, "Welcome to the Shooting Range. What do you think?"

[ooc: Gun Range is open, thread with Cedric and Jack locked to them, please.]

Comments

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"All right," he said and slid the ear protectors around his neck before taking off the safety glasses. "Those seem beneficial."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Not just beneficial, Cedric. Essential." Jack smiled at him, then led the way over to one of the benches. "Come sit down. Relax," he teased. "There's a couple of things I want to tell you, and a couple of ways we can move forward."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He took the offered seat, careful not to break the protective equipment and said, "All right."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You're being very obedient. If I didn't know better, I'd be suspicious," he said lightly. "First, a gun is a weapon, but it's also a tool. Learning to shoot in no way means you are ever going to use it seriously. Second, and probably most important, you're a wizard. That is always going to be your primary offensive weapon. I suspect this is more for my peace of mind than yours."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"But that makes me feel better too," Cedric admitted. "I don't plan on carrying a gun. Ever. I'd like to learn to shoot to prepare for all possible situations but it won't be my first line of offense or defense. Ever."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Good." Jack nodded, looking pleased. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Couple of things can happen now. We can go through how to stand, how to shoot, all those things, without a gun. Or you can hold one, mine, actually, and just get a feel for it."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Let me see yours," Cedric decided.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack smirked, but didn't say anything even vaguely innuendoish. "On it," he said and went to retrieve it. Even though he knew it was unloaded, he still checked it before walking over to Cedric, carrying it pointed at the ground. "When I give it to you, what's the first thing you're going to check?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"To see if it's loaded," he said. "Show me how to do that first so I don't break your weapon."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack smiled approvingly at him. "I was going to. Here, watch." He held out the gun, demonstrating, slowly and carefully, how to pull back the slide, to ensure the chamber didn't hold a round, and popped the clip, pulling it free and holding it out to show it was empty, befor sliding it back. "Think you can do that?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," he said. "Do it once more, please."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded and did it again, slower this time, making sure Cedric could see everything clearly. And then, just to be on the safe side, did it again. "Okay?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he said. "I'll try it now."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He held it out, grip first, watching Cedric intently. "Keep it pointed at the ground. Second rule after 'the gun is always loaded' is never point it at anything you don't want to destroy."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He took the gun, held it tightly, almost white knuckled. First time holding a gun wasn't something he wanted to bugger up.

After taking a deep breath, he managed to mimic Jack's instruction albeit much more slowly.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack settled his hand gently on Cedric's shoulder. "You're doing great, Cedric."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"It's not loaded," he said before looking back up at Jack. "Thank you."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome. How does it feel?" Jack sat next to him again. "It's unloaded, we both checked. It's a safe as it gets. You can move it around, get a feel for it, get used to the weight, though it's going to weigh more loaded. Get comfortable with holding it."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Different," he said. "I'm used to a wand which is as lightweight as they come. It feels almost clunky to me right now. Too heavy."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"That makes sense. I still remember the first time I ever held a gun. It was one like that. It never felt clunky, not really, but it did feel awkward." Jack touched two fingers to the barrel, lost in memory for a moment, then shook his head. "Want me to show you how to hold it?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Yes, please," he said and handed the gun back to Jack, muzzle down.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack spread his hand. "You have to hold it firmly. It has a recoil, a kick, and you need a hard grip on it. High up, press it against the webbing." He wrapped his his hand around the grip. "Don't touch the trigger yet," he added as he folded his other hand around it, ending with both thumbs pointing down. "This is how you hold it. Want to try?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He almost said no. It was just an instinctive reaction but he bit that down and said, "Yes, I'll try."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I can help, if you can't get it on your own," he said as he handed it back.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He nodded and wrapped a hand around the end of the gun, gripping tightly. "And...my second hand now?"