Shooting Range, Thursday Midday

[withoutverona]

Romeo tugged safety equipment out of the cabinet and posted fresh targets and the rules sign before Leto was due to show up, and leaned against a wall cleaning and loading his Dagger as he waited. He'd also recovered the antique gun from Paris from the storage locker, in case Leto didn't have his own weapon to use.

It seemed like he was at the shooting range more often than usual of late; he only hoped the practice was good for him.

[OOC: For Leto, but open!]

Comments

[withoutverona]

"I can," Romeo said. He checked both guns one last time before, reluctantly, setting them aside and going to put on safety goggles and ear protection. "You'll want these, if you aren't used to firearms," he explained.

[future_sandworm]

"I'm... just better at other things," Leto said, reluctantly accepting them. "These are compulsory?" It seemed silly, really, but he wasn't going to refuse.

[withoutverona]

"No," Romeo admitted gratefully. "I don't like them much myself. Triela usually asks new members to wear them during gun club, if I remember rightly, but I'm not Triela."

He was also utterly unconcerned about losing sight or hearing, apparently.

[future_sandworm]

And apparently, so was Leto. He turned his attention towards the guns instead. "Do you fight duels with guns?" he asked.

[sorry for disappearing for so long!]

[withoutverona]

Romeo almost fumbled the gun in his hands at the precision of the question. "For defense," he said, knowing that wasn't exactly an answer.

[future_sandworm]

It wasn't a subject that Leto would push if Romeo didn't want him to. He nodded. "Show me?"

[withoutverona]

"I have been in duels," Romeo said, almost grudgingly. "Anyhow. It's of no import. You load it like so" -- he demonstrated on his own gun -- and then just aim and fire. Do you wish to try loading?"

He nodded to the ammunition and spare gun within Leto's reach/

[future_sandworm]

Leto repeated the action and then aimed at the target, waiting to pull the trigger. "How do you protect yourself against a bullet?" he asked. "A fight must be over quickly."

[withoutverona]

"You shoot first," Romeo answered. He didn't like it, but that was the honest truth. "Or you hope your aim is better, or that your friends protect you. There's no way to truly protect yourself."

[future_sandworm]

"There never is," Leto acknowledged, then fired. His aim was acceptable but not perfect.

[withoutverona]

"Not without shutting yourself in some cage, anyhow," Romeo agreed, then looked at the target. "That was surprisingly good for a first shot."

[future_sandworm]

He shrugged. There were memories not his own that he could draw on, after all. "Your turn?"

[withoutverona]

"I can take one," Romeo said, stepping into position and cocking the gun. He nicked the edge of the bullseye. "Are you going to the dance tomorrow?"

[future_sandworm]

"I am," Leto said, reloading the gun. "And you?"

[withoutverona]

"I am," Romeo nodded. "I had a good time, last year. It was my first date with my girlfriend."

[future_sandworm]

"You have a girlfriend? And I have to admit I know nothing of the dances popular here, but the music is certainly strange."

[withoutverona]

"I have a girlfriend," Romeo echoed. "Yurika Dojima. I'll introduce you at the dance if we bump into you."

He took aim again as he continued talking. "There aren't really formal dances now," he reported. "It's more writing with the music. Not hard at all, really."

[future_sandworm]

Leto watched him shoot, waiting for his turn. "It just looks... undignified," he said, then paused. "May I ask you a question?"

[withoutverona]

"Dancing? I suppose. What are you used to?" Romeo said, glancing at Leto out of the corner of one eye. "And yes, of course."

[future_sandworm]

He fired a shot. Still not to bad, but not an improvement. "Dances where I am from are more formal," he said. "And is everyone expected to formalise a relationship as to be boyfriend and girlfriend? How are these promises made and what exactly is expected?"

It didn't hurt to make perfectly clear what the customs actually were here.

[withoutverona]

"I wouldn't say expected to formalize," Romeo said slowly, lowering his gun. "Most people do, if they're willing to forsake all others at least for the time, but there are also some who would prefer not to pair off. Normally you would woo, then make your promises, and after that all that's expected is companionship, really. I'd never had a girlfriend before Yurika; at home we marry much more quickly." He hoped Leto had followed that.

"Has someone asked to be your girlfriend?"

[future_sandworm]

"No," Leto said, reloading. "But I think someone has feelings for me that would make her consider it. I would be more than her friend if she wanted, but I can't make those promises." He fired again. "And then a friend of hers told me I behaved disrespectfully towards her, which was certainly not my intention." The last sentence gave away some of the irritation he felt.

"I wanted to understand the customs here."

[withoutverona]

"What did you do that made her friend see disrespect?" Romeo asked, as he carefully lined up his next shot. "If you've been honest through it all, there's no dishonor in wanting different things."

[future_sandworm]

"I didn't quite understand it," Leto replied. "Something about that I should have informed her about who I was sleeping with and discontinue expressing attraction. But she have made no complaints."

[withoutverona]

"And most girls will let you know if your advances are unwanted," Romeo said thoughtfully. "I think you should tell her if your heart belongs to another, but if it's just a bit of fun, that can wait until you're ready to bed her."

This was, of course, coming from someone who didn't bother mentioning a dead wife to the woman he was dating until he absolutely had to. It was possible Romeo's sense in these matters was not the best.